a SURVEY - if you can spare a moment

[The Saucepan Man]

One thing I'd like to see is pages and pages of maps.

Let me echo that in the strongest terms. When I read the Books, I take great pleasure in following the events on the maps and they are an integral part of the stories to me.

Phantom, your idea of having maps of Beleriand to represent the differing influences of Melkor and the Elves and Men over time is spot on. There is one such map in the Silmarillion, but it only shows the realms of the Elves at their height. And maps showing the migrations of the peoples would be good to.

I keep meaning to get the The Atlas of Middle Earth, and it may be that it covers these matters. But an abundance of maps would, for me, be an essential element of any guide such as that being discussed here.