The Complete Guide to Middle-Earth: Tolkien's World in the Lord of the Rings and Beyond

by Robert Foster

Book Overview

For the millions who have already ventured to Middle-earth--and for the countless others who have yet to embark on the journey--here is the one indispensable A-to-Z guide that brings Tolkien's universe to life.

EVERY CHARACTER
From Adaldrida Brandybuck to Zaragamba--every Hobbit, Elf, Dwarf, Man, Orc, and other resident of Middle-earth is vividly described and accurately located in its proper place and time.

EVERY...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0345449762
• ISBN13: 9780345449764
• Release Date: December 2001
• Publisher: Del Rey Books
• Length: 592 Pages
• Weight: 1.18 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.2" x 5.6" x 8.3"

Customer Reviews

Useful tool for the Tolkien Fan

As a Tolkien-Fan, I found this book very useful. It gives you that kind of systematic knowledge of Tolkien's world, which is helpful if you forget something, or want to rapidly link characters to places and events. As every A to Z, it must be understood in the frame of its somewhat limited scope.

Best book ever!

This book is perfect if you are abso;uetly obsessed with Tolkien's world, The Lord of the Rings. Gives names of characters mentioned in the books, and characters that arent mentioned. It's the perfect size, and very well written. It may be an encyclopedia, but you can read it like a book and take it all in...

The Best Tolkien Guide Around

This Guide contains the two things most necessary for any serious study of Tolkien's works: clarity and correctness. Foster clearly did a lot of homework when creating this Guide, because it covers all the Ages of Middle-earth and so can be used both by those who have only read 'The Hobbit' as readily as those who, like myself, own and have read almost everything Tolkien has ever written.When I need to know some fact about Middle-earth and don't feel like hauling out the appropriate book, I turn to Foster's Guide -- you should, too.

The best reference on the subject

The book truly deserves praise. The most wanted quality of a reference is its completeness. I assure you: there are NO entries missing. Places, people, topics and events are ALL present. There are many cross-references that help you find more about a specific subject. I've been in Sciences for quite a few years and read intensively. In many books I've read, the index is often weak and incomplete. As an index, the book fulfills my wishes, everything is there. Furthermore all entries receive a complete description and explains relationships with other subjects. This work is apparently a Ph.D., well it certainly deserves the title.