What are some good books for background reading...

Sminty_Smeagol · 09-06-2002, 09:55 PM

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

***Sister Golden Hair*** · 09-07-2002, 12:37 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Sminty_Smeagol
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

You may be thinking of "Myths Transformed" which is volume 10, "Morgoth's Ring" "The Histories of Middle-earth." There are no better background books on LotRs that I know of other then the HoMe.

Sminty_Smeagol · 09-07-2002, 09:07 AM

yes thats what i was thinking of. The person didnt mention it was in HoME.

Smintz

Dain · 09-07-2002, 03:22 PM

There is a book called A Guide To Tolkien by David Day that as plenty of background info for lotr

entss89 · 09-07-2002, 03:31 PM

yeah dain is right i have the same book and that has all the information you need!

BeardofPants · 09-07-2002, 04:21 PM

Haha! The bookstore conspired against me having Morgoths Ring, but now I have it!

Isn't David Day supposed to be rather dubious?

markedel · 09-07-2002, 05:08 PM

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.

RÃ¡na EressÃ«a · 09-08-2002, 07:24 PM

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.

Comic Book Guy · 09-08-2002, 07:35 PM

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.

RÃ¡na EressÃ«a · 09-08-2002, 09:53 PM

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.

***RÃan*** · 09-09-2002, 01:58 PM

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.

BeardofPants · 09-09-2002, 03:44 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by RÃ*an
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.

Absolutely. Letters put everything into a nutshell, and explained things to me, that I could not have had a hope of grasping by reading his other books.

RÃ¡na EressÃ«a · 09-09-2002, 04:07 PM

The Letters are first on my to-get list.

Elbereth · 09-12-2002, 05:16 PM

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...

Elvet · 09-12-2002, 07:39 PM

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.

Gilrond · 09-15-2002, 06:02 PM

Yeah, Unfinished Tales explains a lot.

nazgul prince · 09-15-2002, 06:34 PM

What about the people's of middle earth how is that.

sun-star · 09-17-2002, 04:51 PM

Quote:

There is another biography of Tolkien by Humphrey Carpenter, has anyone read it?

I have, and I didn't like it. I trust its accuracy, but its tone irritated me - too subjective for my taste.

***Sister Golden Hair*** · 09-17-2002, 10:21 PM

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.

09-06-2002, 09:55 PM	#1
Sminty_Smeagol Manic Cardboard-Box Dweller Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: In a house Posts: 1,071	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, 03:31 PM	#5
entss89 lord of the ents Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: nc Posts: 539	hi yeah dain is right i have the same book and that has all the information you need!

09-07-2002, 04:21 PM	#6
BeardofPants the Shrike Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: San Francisco, CA <3 Posts: 10,647	Haha! The bookstore conspired against me having Morgoths Ring, but now I have it! Isn't David Day supposed to be rather dubious? __________________ "Binary solo! 0000001! 00000011! 0000001! 00000011!" ~ The Humans are Dead, Flight of the Conchords

09-07-2002, 05:08 PM	#7
markedel 'Sober' Mullet Frosh Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Queen's Posts: 1,245	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. __________________ "Earnur was a man like his father in valour, but not in wisdom"

09-09-2002, 01:58 PM	#11
*RÃan* Half-Elven Princess of Rabbit Trails and Harp-Wielding Administrator (beware the Rubber Chicken of Doom!) Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Not where I want to be ... Posts: 15,254	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. __________________ . I should be doing the laundry, but this is MUCH more fun! Ã‘Ã¡ Ã«?* Ã³Ãº Ã©Ã¤ Ã¯Ã¶Ã¼ Ã–Ã± Ã‰ Ãž Ã° ÃŸ Â® Ã§ Ã¥ â„¢ Ã¦ ♪ ?* "How lovely are Thy dwelling places, O Lord of hosts! ... For a day in Thy courts is better than a thousand outside." (from Psalm 84) * * * God rocks! Entmoot : Veni, vidi, velcro - I came, I saw, I got hooked! Ego numquam pronunciare mendacium, sed ego sum homo indomitus! Run the earth and watch the sky ... Auta i lÃ³mÃ«! AurÃ« entuluva!

09-07-2002, 09:07 AM	#3
Sminty_Smeagol Manic Cardboard-Box Dweller Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: In a house Posts: 1,071	yes thats what i was thinking of. The person didnt mention it was in HoME. Smintz

09-07-2002, 03:22 PM	#4
Dain Hobbit Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Leeds, England Posts: 20	There is a book called A Guide To Tolkien by David Day that as plenty of background info for lotr

09-08-2002, 07:24 PM	#8
RÃ¡na EressÃ«a The Rogue Elf Join Date: Jan 2002 Posts: 1,722	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.

09-08-2002, 07:35 PM	#9
Comic Book Guy Best Ex-Administrator ever Join Date: May 2001 Location: Ireland Posts: 60,547	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.

09-08-2002, 09:53 PM	#10
RÃ¡na EressÃ«a The Rogue Elf Join Date: Jan 2002 Posts: 1,722	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, 04:07 PM	#13
RÃ¡na EressÃ«a The Rogue Elf Join Date: Jan 2002 Posts: 1,722	The Letters are first on my to-get list.

09-12-2002, 05:16 PM	#14
Elbereth Elven Warrior Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Rivendell Posts: 122	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... __________________ A! Elbereth Gilithoniel! 'Fate goes ever as fate must.' Beowulf (Seamus Haney's translation) FRODO LIVES!!!

09-12-2002, 07:39 PM	#15
Elvet Elven Warrior Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Orillia, Ontario Posts: 221	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. __________________ "But do not despise the lore that has come down from distant years; for oft it may chance that old wives keep in memory word of things that once were needful for the wise to know."

09-15-2002, 06:02 PM	#16
Gilrond Enting Join Date: Sep 2002 Posts: 52	Yeah, Unfinished Tales explains a lot.

09-15-2002, 06:34 PM	#17
nazgul prince Enting Join Date: Sep 2002 Posts: 58	What about the people's of middle earth how is that.

09-17-2002, 10:21 PM	#19
*Sister Golden Hair* Queen of Nargothrond Administrator Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: Akron, Ohio - USA Posts: 7,121	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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