Favourite Part of Unfinished Tales?

[Elmo]

I love Hurins mockery of Morgoth "Blind ye are..."

[The Might]

I always enjoyed the essays a lot, but my favourite definitely is The Hunt for the Ring, it offers so many interesting pieces of information that help you get a much clearer view on the events that took place in the beginning of the war

[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.

[Galadriel]

Originally Posted by Elmo

I love Hurins mockery of Morgoth "Blind ye are..."

Ahhh how can I forget that part? Children of Húrin is my favourite side-story. I think Tuor is far too hard to relate to, not to mention terribly unrealistic.

[narfforc]

It has got to be The Istari.................however i do quite like The Quest of Erebor.

[Morthoron]

My favorite part of Unfinished Tales? I am not sure. I'll let you know once it is finished.

[Galadriel]

Originally Posted by Morthoron

My favorite part of Unfinished Tales? I am not sure. I'll let you know once it is finished.

Funny, Morthoron. Somehow, your statement sounded a little morbid...I'm not sure why.

[Morwen]

My favourite moment is the meeting between Ulmo and Tuor. I love all that Ulmo has to say to Tuor at this moment, that he Ulmo is a voice that gainsayeth among his brethren, that Tuor should not ask why he was chosen. I love the wording and would quote directly if I had the book with me.

[Legate of Amon Lanc]

Originally Posted by Morwen

My favourite moment is the meeting between Ulmo and Tuor. I love all that Ulmo has to say to Tuor at this moment, that he Ulmo is a voice that gainsayeth among his brethren, that Tuor should not ask why he was chosen. I love the wording and would quote directly if I had the book with me.

I have to second that. Well, surprise. Personally, I really like Tuor and his tale is just beautiful anyway, even its descriptive parts, like the description of Cirith Ninniach, Tuor's vision granted to him by Ulmo, and other things... I think the way the water is portrayed in the story is exceptionally beautiful in general, which is, of course, fitting for this particular tale. And Ulmo is just great there, he is truly "the voice that gainsayeth" - unwilling to part ways with the Children in Middle-Earth, even though his more rigid brothers (and sisters) are not maintaining any sort of communication and not willing to break the bane.

But aside from this, there are many other parts I really like in the UT, and it is difficult to pick some. Be it some things in the story of Celeborn and Galadriel, in the tale of Túrin the sorrow of Mim (but now it's in the CoH, so maybe it doesn't count so much), the Quest of Erebor, or some things in the Istari chapter... maybe if I was supposed to point out just one more thing, I would mention the part of the Hunt for the Ring describing the encounter of the Black Riders with Saruman in Isengard. It is just on the level of the strongest narrative moments in LotR. My favourite, though, is one of the versions of it, where Saruman, in terror of the Riders, just narrowly misses the chance to repent and ask Gandalf's help (which he would have surely granted him, as we learn from later on in TT!). I mean - imagine how little would have been enough to alter the history of Middle-Earth so dramatically; the way it is written there, it is just so close - and so emotional, I can see Saruman's flight in dread up the stairway in Orthanc, only to find the spire empty and see a great eagle slowly disappearing in the distance... Just amazing.