The Lost Road and Other Writings (The History of Middle-Earth - Volume 5)

Rating:
Summary: Good for the Tolkien Enthusiast
Review: If you're a Tolkien scholar, you already know how good this book is. It provides insight into the process of creating many important stories in the Silmarillion, most notably the Downfall of Numenor. Most critically, if you are studying Tolkien languages (Quenya or Sindarin = elvish), you need this book, which includes Etymologies, an important reference. I'm studying Quenya, so this is pretty much mandatory reading.

But if you're reading this review, you're probably a Tolkien fan just browsing. In that case, my message to you is this. Read Lord of the Rings. Then, read the Hobbit and the Silmarillion. If you love the Silmarillion, and want a sense of how it developed over the decades, then get The Lost Road. Otherwise, it will probably be too dry an academic for you.

Rating:
Summary: Another great by Christopher Tolkien
Review: In the fifth volume of The History of Middle Earth, Christopher Tolkien brings to light even more of his father's great stories. What started as a competition between Inkling members J.R.R. Tolkien and C.S. Lewis almost became what looks to be a very good story (it ends after only two chapters), and was the foreshadowing of an even greater story--the Fall of Numenor. Tolkien also includes the later Annals of both Valinor and Beleriand, not to mention an early version of the Ainulindale. He also teases die hard fans with the Llamas and the Etymologies, which give new insight on Elvish languages. Also included is Tolkien's second Silmarillion map which shows how his understanding of Middle Earth's geography evolved. I recommend this book to any die hard Tolkien fan and to those who are casually strolling through this beautiful world of Middle Earth.

Rating:
Summary: The Lost Road - A must-have for the Tolkienian linguist
Review: In The Lost Road, Tolkien writes a short story in a competition with the Inklings (among which was author C.S. Lewis). This story eventually evolved into the tale of the Fall of Numenor. Also included are the Etymologies, which gives very interesting new information on the Elven languages.

Rating:
Summary: Essential Work Of Tolkien's Early Numenor Saga
Review: Once more Christopher Tolkien has provided an essential tome which is a history of his father's early Middle-earth writings as well as a splendid etymology of the Elvish languages. The book includes "The Lost Road", an early look at Numenor told as a time travel saga that starts in early 20th Century England as well as an early version of the Quenta Silmarillion. This is absolutely required reading for Tolkien fans.

Rating:
Summary: Good for the Tolkien Enthusiast
Review: Once more Christopher Tolkien has provided an essential tome which is a history of his father's early Middle-earth writings as well as a splendid etymology of the Elvish languages. The book includes "The Lost Road", an early look at Numenor told as a time travel saga that starts in early 20th Century England as well as an early version of the Quenta Silmarillion. This is absolutely required reading for Tolkien fans.

Rating:
Summary: The Lost Road - A must-have for the Tolkienian linguist
Review: The Lost Road, the fifth book in the History of Middle Earth series, publishes for the first time the background material on Middle Earth J.R.R. Tolkien created for his own use as he wrote Lord of the Rings. Some of this draft material was edited and published posthumously in The Silmarillion. The Lost Road includes much of the material found in The Silmarillion in its previous incarnations, all with commentary from JRRT's son, Christopher Tolkien. Included as well is The Lost Road, a time-travel story Tolkien wrote at the behest of his good friend, C.S. Lewis (who was to work on a space-travel story). The Lost Road was never completed; Tolkien abandoned the idea midway.

Especially of interest to Tolkienian linguists are the Lhammas, or book of tongues, which outlines Tolkien's former conception of the dividing and multiplying of the Elvish languages. While this scenario is extremely out of sync with Tolkien's final conception, it is still of interest historically and important in order to understand the section that follows, the Etymologies.

The Etymologies are a /must/ for any Tolkienian linguist. They were and remain the greatest source of vocabulary in all the Elvish languages, and almost the only source for Primitive Elvish stems. While confusing to the non-technical reader, the Etymologies are still the main reference used by Tolkienian linguists. Allthough some of the material in the Etymologies is out of sync with what Tolkien imagined his languages to be as when he wrote Lord of the Rings, the changes necessary to bring Etymologies-style languages to 'modern' languages are mostly well documented.

In short, if you're just someone who enjoys Tolkien's works, this would be a fun read. If you're a serious Tolkienian linguist, this is a requirement.

Rating:
Summary: For any Tolkien linguist this is REQUIRED READING
Review: This book contains the Etymologies of the Elvish languages. This is the prime source of all current vocabulary in Quenya, Sindarin, Telerin and all other Elvish tongues.

I HIGHLY recommend that any serious student of Tolkien's languages buy this book.