Unifinished Tales

Varda-Me · 03-03-2002, 01:14 AM

I've just started - and I mean "just" - reading the Unfinished Tales. Are they worth reading? I mean, I guess, how worthwhile are they? Sorry if this is a stupid question(s), but I'm just curious. I've read LoTR, The Sil, and The Hobbit, but am wondering where to go next.....

Bacchus · 03-03-2002, 07:02 AM

I'm betting this will be moved, but...

I absolutely loved UT, but with a few caveats. The book title is apropos. It consists of fragmentary snippets of often contradictory writings interspersed with editorial comments by Christopher. However, there is a wealth of information, and the book is a must for any Tolkien scholar.

markedel · 03-03-2002, 10:29 AM

They are interesting. Some of them are really good stories, and some are far more fragmentatry. There are lots of jewels scattered inside.

ArwenEvenstar · 03-03-2002, 11:18 AM

i'm still reading it and it's pretty good. but one of the confusing ones is the Galadriel and Celeborn one in the second age, it gives tons of information but (IMO) it's a little annoying because there's hardly any story it's mostly commentary by christopher tolkien.

Renille · 03-03-2002, 12:38 PM

There's already a forum somewhere in Middle Earth about UT, but they aren't EXACTLY alike, so...oh well.
I've just finished the second age in Unfinished Tales. I love it so far! My favorites are Aldarion and Erendis and Turin's story (I forget what it's called in the book.

) I definitely reccomend this book if you're at all interested in strengthening your knowledge of Middle Earth. It's definitely a wonderful reading experience, though a little dry at times, due to excessive fragmentation.

sun-star · 03-03-2002, 01:10 PM

I really enjoyed Unfinished Tales, but it got annoying when there were several versions of the same story and I didn't know which to believe. My favourite was the one about the Seven Gates (or something like that) of Gondolin.

eowyn144 · 03-03-2002, 03:40 PM

i've just started it too!its looks kind of daunting though but i'm determined to stick with it. i also bought a Guide to Tolkien to help me along the way.it has some great pictures in.

Laurelyn · 03-03-2002, 06:53 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Renille
I've just finished the second age in Unfinished Tales. I love it so far! My favorites are Aldarion and Erendis and Turin's story (I forget what it's called in the book.

I'm at the same place . . . just finished the Second Age about a half hour ago. I'm taking my time reading it because it's more fun that way (I'm normally a fast reader). Oh, and the "story of Turin" is really called Narn i hîn Húrin, which I believe means "the story of the children of Hurin", but don't count on my translation.

eowyn144 · 03-23-2002, 03:56 PM

i'm halfway through the second age in UT now.
am actually quite surprised. i didn't think i'd understand much of it but am actually really enjoying it.am being helped along the way though by my trusty Complete guide to Middle Earth.

03-03-2002, 01:14 AM	#1
Varda-Me Hobbit Join Date: Jan 2002 Posts: 40	Unifinished Tales I've just started - and I mean "just" - reading the Unfinished Tales. Are they worth reading? I mean, I guess, how worthwhile are they? Sorry if this is a stupid question(s), but I'm just curious. I've read LoTR, The Sil, and The Hobbit, but am wondering where to go next.....

03-03-2002, 07:02 AM	#2
Bacchus Elven Warrior Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Houston TX USA Posts: 245	I'm betting this will be moved, but... I absolutely loved UT, but with a few caveats. The book title is apropos. It consists of fragmentary snippets of often contradictory writings interspersed with editorial comments by Christopher. However, there is a wealth of information, and the book is a must for any Tolkien scholar. __________________ Yet neither by wolf, nor by Balrog, nor by Dragon, would Morgoth have achieved his end, but for the treachery of Men. Always after a defeat and a respite, the Shadow takes another shape and grows again.

03-03-2002, 10:29 AM	#3
markedel 'Sober' Mullet Frosh Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Queen's Posts: 1,245	They are interesting. Some of them are really good stories, and some are far more fragmentatry. There are lots of jewels scattered inside. __________________ "Earnur was a man like his father in valour, but not in wisdom"

03-03-2002, 11:18 AM	#4
ArwenEvenstar Elf Lord Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: and why do YOU want to know? Posts: 685	i'm still reading it and it's pretty good. but one of the confusing ones is the Galadriel and Celeborn one in the second age, it gives tons of information but (IMO) it's a little annoying because there's hardly any story it's mostly commentary by christopher tolkien. __________________ The only thing active about me is my imagination!

03-03-2002, 12:38 PM	#5
Renille Elven Lady of Speed-posting Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: the cheese state Posts: 988	There's already a forum somewhere in Middle Earth about UT, but they aren't EXACTLY alike, so...oh well. I've just finished the second age in Unfinished Tales. I love it so far! My favorites are Aldarion and Erendis and Turin's story (I forget what it's called in the book. ) I definitely reccomend this book if you're at all interested in strengthening your knowledge of Middle Earth. It's definitely a wonderful reading experience, though a little dry at times, due to excessive fragmentation. __________________ Oh the thinks you can think! Think and wonder and dream...far and wide as you dare! When your thinks have run dry, in the blink of an eye, there's another world there... (from Seussical the Musical. Listen to it...watch it...really.)

03-03-2002, 01:10 PM	#6
sun-star Lady of Letters Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Either Oxford or Kent, England Posts: 2,476	I really enjoyed Unfinished Tales, but it got annoying when there were several versions of the same story and I didn't know which to believe. My favourite was the one about the Seven Gates (or something like that) of Gondolin.

03-03-2002, 03:40 PM	#7
eowyn144 Elven Warrior Join Date: Jan 2002 Posts: 435	i've just started it too!its looks kind of daunting though but i'm determined to stick with it. i also bought a Guide to Tolkien to help me along the way.it has some great pictures in. __________________ If you want to make an apple pie from scratch, you must first create the universe

03-23-2002, 03:56 PM	#9
eowyn144 Elven Warrior Join Date: Jan 2002 Posts: 435	i'm halfway through the second age in UT now. am actually quite surprised. i didn't think i'd understand much of it but am actually really enjoying it.am being helped along the way though by my trusty Complete guide to Middle Earth. __________________ If you want to make an apple pie from scratch, you must first create the universe

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