Favourite Part of Unfinished Tales?

[Mithalwen]

Since I am one of the Tolkien fans who loves the world of Middle Earth as a whole over the major storylines, Unfinished Tales is especially beloved to me.. I know its fascination is dependent on having read the "Finished" works but it answers so many unanswered questions that the appendices could not - or more accurately offers answers since the nature of it means that they cannot be taken as definitive. So hard to choose - I love getting Gandalf's view of the Quest of Erebor, more information on the disaster of the Gladden Fields, the Lords of Dol Amroth, Numenore ..I couold more or less list the index - however the Tale of Aldarion and Erendis is perhaps what I would go for.... far more passion than the whole of the Lord of the Rings and a psychologically accurate study of a disintegrating relationship.... tree loving heir to the throne hitches up with beautiful but neurotic and wilful woman .....

[MatthewM]

My favorite part is contained within Galadriel and Celeborn, when Tolkien explains Boromir's courageous journey from Minas Tirith to Rivendell a little more than we get in the narrative of the story.

[yavanna II]

Originally Posted by Mithalwen

...however the Tale of Aldarion and Erendis is perhaps what I would go for.... far more passion than the whole of the Lord of the Rings and a psychologically accurate study of a disintegrating relationship.... tree loving heir to the throne hitches up with beautiful but neurotic and wilful woman .....

And reminds me of a tale that exists in my own surroundings. Aldarion and Erendis touched me deeply, and though set in a myth, has a lot of significance. It made me cry, the first (and so far last) of its genre to do so.

[obloquy]

Hurin! In fact, Hurin's is one of the best stories Tolkien ever told, I believe.

[Eönwë]

Drùedain and Istari. Wow!

[skip spence]

Originally Posted by Mithalwen

however the Tale of Aldarion and Erendis is perhaps what I would go for.... far more passion than the whole of the Lord of the Rings and a psychologically accurate study of a disintegrating relationship.... tree loving heir to the throne hitches up with beautiful but neurotic and wilful woman .....

I was also impressed by the very human touch of this story. It's a shame Tolkien never gained enough focus to finish it. This is certainly not "fantasy", just great (although very scetchy) literature.

The tale of Tuor* is also a favourite of mine and the prose, bordering on lyric, is absolutely wonderful. Once again, it's a real shame he didn't finish it.

*edit.

[Sauron the White]

Tuor and Gondolin. I just love anything to do with Goldolin and I find the various Gates fascinating.

[zxcvbn]

The part about Cirion and Eorl. That was really helpful to me as it helped fill in the missing pieces in the history of the Northmen of Rhovanion and their descendants. From here I found that the Eotheod were founded by the last prince of the Northmen, and thus the Kings of Rohan can claim descent from the Kings of Rhovanion.

[ArathornJax]

I really enjoyed the Hunt for the Ring because it almost tells the story from the point of view of the Nazgul chasing the ring. Wouldn't it be cool to have a transcribed or written account by the Witch-King and Khamul on chasing after the ring.

I also enjoy reading the Quest for Erebor since it was The Hobbit that turned me on to Middle Earth.

[Ibrîniðilpathânezel]

Well, since I originally bought the book specifically to read the essay on the Istari, I guess I would have to say... (drum roll)... the Istari. What a surprise!

However, I do enjoy much of the rest of the book, quite nearly as well. Except for the parts about Hurin and family. That is one heck of a depressing story....

[Eönwë]

Originally Posted by Ibrîniðilpathânezel

the parts about Hurin and family. That is one heck of a depressing story....

So is the Tuor tale, really. He just doesn't describe as many of the bad parts. The whole House of Hador (especially Galdo's descendants) suffer so much.

Come to think of it, so is Aldarion and Erndis.

Actually, all of the works of ME are a bit depressing (dimishing knowledge, power, people, good, etc.), except maybe for Tom Bombadil. All this time I've been reading books by a depressing author