The Elves - What have they ever done for us?

[Wayland]

Thanks guys. I read through the appendices this weekend and found them very informative. There is so much background information that I almost feel a Lotr re-read is justified.

But I is left feeling a bit lyke Samwise after 'is Lembas; it's got all the stuff you need to keep going, Master Frodo, but don't quite satisfy the appetite, if you know what I mean.

The outline of the Lorien & Mirkwood campaigns was fascinating and I would be interested to discover whether Tolkein ever developed these episodes into a more fleshed-out tale in any of his scattered writings?

You have mentioned works I've never heard of: HOME & the Tolkien Companion (JEA Tyler) and Fosters "Complete Guide to Middle Earth". Is the HOME a Tolkein work? and is the "Complete Guide" a worthwhile purchase?

[Lalwendë]

Originally Posted by Wayland

But I is left feeling a bit lyke Samwise after 'is Lembas; it's got all the stuff you need to keep going, Master Frodo, but don't quite satisfy the appetite, if you know what I mean.

Oooh, careful! That's how you get hooked on Tolkien - because of all those tempting little gaps where you just need to find out more!

Originally Posted by Wayland

You have mentioned works I've never heard of: HOME & the Tolkien Companion (JEA Tyler) and Fosters "Complete Guide to Middle Earth". Is the HOME a Tolkein work? and is the "Complete Guide" a worthwhile purchase?

Yep. HoME is basically a 13 volume (including index) work edited and put toegther by Christopher Tolkien from all Tolkien's notes and drafts. It's an epic work, and a daunting one too at times. It's NOT a story though, so don't expect that - but it's a 'must-have' as you get more into Tolkien's work.

Foster's Complete Guide is an A-Z reference of Tolkien's work and is most definitely worth buying - it's the best, most straightforward guide, is accurate and most importantly, can be got cheap!

[Břicho]

I used to have the Foster guide when I was a kid; it incorporated the Silm as well as TH and LOTR.

Do the new editions cover things from UT or HoME as well, I wonder?

[Lalwendë]

I don't know if there were any new editions. I presume there must be. I'll look that one up. I know davem has a nice hardback copy with colour plate illustrations by Ted Nasmith but I've never checked if it's updated text to be honest! Why? I tend to use my ancient paperback copy - might well be the same one you used, Bricho; it used to 'live' next to the novels as it was so invaluable for reference.

Illustrated version and non-illustrated version . The Lord of the Rings, a Reader's Companion closely mirrors the text of Lord of the Rings and is superb for a close read-through, fully recommended. And once hooked, this is the mother of all guides

Avoid David Day 'reference' books, though, as they're very pretty (well, the Bestiary is, anyway) but not accurate at all.

But if anyone is stuck for cash, just try the Encyclopedia of Arda website.

[littlemanpoet]

But really, Wayland, what you want to read, to get more of Tolkien's Elves, is The Silmarillion. Mind you, it's not a happy tale where the Elves win out, but where heroic Elf after heroic Elf goes down in battle against their evil foe Morgoth; I won't give away the ending. You should also know that reading The Silmarillion is like reading old lore instead of a crackling good yarn. But it's worth it.

[Wayland]

Originally Posted by littlemanpoet

But really, Wayland, what you want to read, to get more of Tolkien's Elves, is The Silmarillion. Mind you, it's not a happy tale where the Elves win out, but where heroic Elf after heroic Elf goes down in battle against their evil foe Morgoth; I won't give away the ending. You should also know that reading The Silmarillion is like reading old lore instead of a crackling good yarn. But it's worth it.

Ahhh yes. I'm coming to that conclusion myself. I have a fist full of Waterstone's vouchers from Santa, so I may be tempted. The Foster's Complete Guide, as recommended by Lalwendë, seems to be worth a look at too.