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09-06-2002, 09:55 PM | #1 |
Manic Cardboard-Box Dweller
Join Date: Aug 2002
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What are some good books for background reading...
I would like to know some names of books that would provide maybe some background info on the stuff in lotr (besides silm/Histories).... I believe someone mentioned a few times a book... to supply background info... but I forget what it was called... I think it had "myth" in the title... ergh?
-~*Smintz |
09-07-2002, 12:37 AM | #2 | |
Queen of Nargothrond
Administrator Join Date: Feb 2001
Location: Akron, Ohio - USA
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Re: What are some good books for background reading...
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09-07-2002, 09:07 AM | #3 |
Manic Cardboard-Box Dweller
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: In a house
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yes thats what i was thinking of. The person didnt mention it was in HoME.
Smintz |
09-07-2002, 03:22 PM | #4 |
Hobbit
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Leeds, England
Posts: 20
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There is a book called A Guide To Tolkien by David Day that as plenty of background info for lotr
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09-07-2002, 03:31 PM | #5 |
lord of the ents
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: nc
Posts: 539
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hi
yeah dain is right i have the same book and that has all the information you need!
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09-07-2002, 04:21 PM | #6 |
the Shrike
Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: San Francisco, CA <3
Posts: 10,647
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Haha! The bookstore conspired against me having Morgoths Ring, but now I have it!
Isn't David Day supposed to be rather dubious?
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09-07-2002, 05:08 PM | #7 |
'Sober' Mullet Frosh
Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: Queen's
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I think David is supposed to be dubious, especially in his linguistics. But the material is so contradictory and written over such a long period of time it is difficult to find consistency. HoME is probably the best bet, and the Letters are useful. I've never read a lot of either (I don't have the time or money to start) but I suppose if one wanted to delve that would be where to look. The great advantage is that each portion has its own uses.
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09-08-2002, 07:24 PM | #8 |
The Rogue Elf
Join Date: Jan 2002
Posts: 1,722
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I read David Day's A Tolkien Bestiary, and it was rather accurate; I looked up many of the things listed in it. However, one noticable mistake was the shape of Numenor on the map. Aside from that, there wasn't really anything wrong with it.
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09-08-2002, 07:35 PM | #9 |
Best Ex-Administrator ever
Join Date: May 2001
Location: Ireland
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David Day has the worst reputation in the Tolkien community, according to other well learnt Tolkien Scholars he makes his own Middle-Earth and then writes about it.
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09-08-2002, 09:53 PM | #10 |
The Rogue Elf
Join Date: Jan 2002
Posts: 1,722
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So basically he twists everything to his liking? Ehh...
If you would, check out the accuracy of A Tolkien Bestiary yourself and report back - you'll probably find some things in it that I missed. I'll try and get a hold of it again and give it a more thorough scan, but it'll be a while before I can. |
09-09-2002, 01:58 PM | #11 |
Half-Elven Princess of Rabbit Trails and Harp-Wielding Administrator (beware the Rubber Chicken of Doom!)
Join Date: Sep 2002
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I would agree that "Letters of J.R.R. Tolkien" is a must-read. It's really enjoyable to get more of a personal feel for him and see how he thinks things out.
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09-09-2002, 03:44 PM | #12 | |
the Shrike
Join Date: Mar 2002
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Quote:
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"Binary solo! 0000001! 00000011! 0000001! 00000011!" ~ The Humans are Dead, Flight of the Conchords |
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09-09-2002, 04:07 PM | #13 |
The Rogue Elf
Join Date: Jan 2002
Posts: 1,722
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The Letters are first on my to-get list.
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09-12-2002, 05:16 PM | #14 |
Elven Warrior
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: Rivendell
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Yes, Rana, run and get LETTERS, it's the best. I'm not done reading it yet, I read it in bits and parts between other books, but I never get tired of it. It makes you realize all over again what a genius Tolkien was. There is another biography of Tolkien by Humphrey Carpenter, has anyone read it? I have two 'background' books, one is JRR TOLKIEN: AUTHOR OF THE CENTUARY by Tom Shippey, and one is *everyone cringe* TOLKIEN'S RING by David Day. I didn't know David Day was poison, before...
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09-12-2002, 07:39 PM | #15 |
Elven Warrior
Join Date: Feb 2002
Location: Orillia, Ontario
Posts: 221
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I agree about the Letters of Tolkien. I think Unfinished tales is good. I use Robert Foster's Complete Guide to Middle Earth ( the acedemics think Day is to be avoided ). I like the Atlas of Middle Earth by Karen Fonstad. Some discrepancies also, but in general pretty useful. There is another map book about the Journey's of Frodo that I've heard many recommend.
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09-15-2002, 06:02 PM | #16 |
Enting
Join Date: Sep 2002
Posts: 52
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Yeah, Unfinished Tales explains a lot.
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09-15-2002, 06:34 PM | #17 |
Enting
Join Date: Sep 2002
Posts: 58
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What about the people's of middle earth how is that.
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09-17-2002, 04:51 PM | #18 | |
Lady of Letters
Join Date: Jan 2002
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Quote:
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And all the time the waves, the waves, the waves Chase, intersect and flatten on the sand As they have done for centuries, as they will For centuries to come, when not a soul Is left to picnic on the blazing rocks, When England is not England, when mankind Has blown himself to pieces. Still the sea, Consolingly disastrous, will return While the strange starfish, hugely magnified, Waits in the jewelled basin of a pool. |
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09-17-2002, 10:21 PM | #19 |
Queen of Nargothrond
Administrator Join Date: Feb 2001
Location: Akron, Ohio - USA
Posts: 7,121
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David Day's work is not accurate. He makes thing up as he goes along and his material is very under researched. It is beyond me how his work ever managed to be published. CBG is correct. I think your best bets are HoMe, Letters of Tolkien, and Foster"s Complete Guide to Middle-earth. This is a pretty accurate reference book, but a bit out dated since it does not include anything past the Silmarillion.
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