Paperback, 616 pages
English language
Published Jan. 1, 2014 by Harper Collins.
Unfinished Tales of Númenor and Middle-earth is a collection of stories and essays by J. R. R. Tolkien that were never completed during his lifetime, but were edited by his son Christopher Tolkien and published in 1980. Many of the tales within are retold in The Silmarillion, albeit in modified forms; the work also contains a summary of the events of The Lord of the Rings told from a less personal perspective.
For anyone who's read The Lord of the Rings and The Silmarillion and wants more, this is an excellent next read. More detail on tales already told and some fascinating new bits.
For anyone who's read The Lord of the Rings and The Silmarillion and wants more, this is an excellent next read. More detail on tales already told and some fascinating new bits.
There are some that have said that "Unfinished Tales" while good, holds the position of a band publishing songs that it originally left on the cutting room floor. I disagree with that assessment.
First, let us be clear for new people: "Unfinished Tales" is not a new read. It is not a book you read first. Ever. A good reading of (in order of importance) "The Lord of the Rings," "The Silmarillion," and (optionally) "The Hobbit," is required. Without this background you simply will not be able to make any sense of what you're reading in "Unfinished Tales" despite Christopher's very good notes.
Here you will find details that fans of the Legendarium have long wondered and wanted to know about. What is Gandalf? What was the order he was part of, and who were its members? What's the real story(s) behind Galadreal? How did Gondor and Rohan become such …
There are some that have said that "Unfinished Tales" while good, holds the position of a band publishing songs that it originally left on the cutting room floor. I disagree with that assessment.
First, let us be clear for new people: "Unfinished Tales" is not a new read. It is not a book you read first. Ever. A good reading of (in order of importance) "The Lord of the Rings," "The Silmarillion," and (optionally) "The Hobbit," is required. Without this background you simply will not be able to make any sense of what you're reading in "Unfinished Tales" despite Christopher's very good notes.
Here you will find details that fans of the Legendarium have long wondered and wanted to know about. What is Gandalf? What was the order he was part of, and who were its members? What's the real story(s) behind Galadreal? How did Gondor and Rohan become such good friends? "Aldarion and Erendis" give us an actual story set in the time and place of Numenor. All of that is here.
Rather than "Unfinished Tales" being works that never made the cut, or ended up on the cutting room floor, rather it is a collection of work, literally, that was still in development by their author who was, unfortunately, gifted a lifetime of Men rather than Elves.
Yes, there is a hierarchy of canonicity here. If the "Lord of the Rings" says something and "Unfinished Tales" says something different, "Lord of the Rings" wins. But for the rest, we can revel in the additional thoughts, ideas, and details.
Of all the "tales from middle earth" books this is by far my favourite. In the end the first and second ages are only that interesting to me. While the third age really captures my imagination and is the one where the most fascinating and fleshed out characters and stories take place. This book collects fascinating lore on the third age outside of the scope of the LotR and the Hobbit. The story of the Wizards, the Stones, Galadriel and so on. If you've read the LotR and the Hobbit I would recommend this book before the other books about the time before the Hobbit (i.e the Silmarillion etc).
Of all the "tales from middle earth" books this is by far my favourite. In the end the first and second ages are only that interesting to me. While the third age really captures my imagination and is the one where the most fascinating and fleshed out characters and stories take place. This book collects fascinating lore on the third age outside of the scope of the LotR and the Hobbit. The story of the Wizards, the Stones, Galadriel and so on. If you've read the LotR and the Hobbit I would recommend this book before the other books about the time before the Hobbit (i.e the Silmarillion etc).
I've read quite a few parts of this previously, either due to individual curiosity about specific topics (such as the Quest of Erebor, Istari, Palantiri) or as part of other works (Narn i Hin Hurin – most of which is incorporated in [b:The Children of Hurin|3141295|The Children of Hurin/The Silmarillion/The Hobbit/The Lord of the Rings|J.R.R. Tolkien|http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1238112196s/3141295.jpg|3172742]), but I had not until now sat down and read all the various tales in order. Already a big fan of Tolkien, as a whole I quite enjoyed the collection, especially since Christopher Tolkien's notes and analysis are kept at a minimum compared when compared with the various volumes of HoME.
Of the tales I had not read previously, I most enjoyed that of Aldarion and Erendis, as well as brief story of the Druedain, perhaps because I knew the least about them already.
Highly recommended for anyone who has already read [b:The Hobbit|5907|The …
I've read quite a few parts of this previously, either due to individual curiosity about specific topics (such as the Quest of Erebor, Istari, Palantiri) or as part of other works (Narn i Hin Hurin – most of which is incorporated in [b:The Children of Hurin|3141295|The Children of Hurin/The Silmarillion/The Hobbit/The Lord of the Rings|J.R.R. Tolkien|http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1238112196s/3141295.jpg|3172742]), but I had not until now sat down and read all the various tales in order. Already a big fan of Tolkien, as a whole I quite enjoyed the collection, especially since Christopher Tolkien's notes and analysis are kept at a minimum compared when compared with the various volumes of HoME.
Of the tales I had not read previously, I most enjoyed that of Aldarion and Erendis, as well as brief story of the Druedain, perhaps because I knew the least about them already.
Highly recommended for anyone who has already read [b:The Hobbit|5907|The Hobbit|J.R.R. Tolkien|http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1353852111s/5907.jpg|1540236], [b:Lord of the Rings|33|The Lord of the Rings (The Lord of the Rings, #1-3)|J.R.R. Tolkien|http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1347257199s/33.jpg|3462456] and [b:The Silmarillion|7332|The Silmarillion|J.R.R. Tolkien|http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1336502583s/7332.jpg|4733799].
1) ''It might have gone very differently indeed. The main attack was diverted southwards, it is true; and yet even so with his far-stretched right hand Sauron could have done terrible harm in the North, while we defended Gondor, if King Brand and King Dàin had not stood in his path. When you think of the great Battle of Pelennor, do not forget the Battle of Dale. Think of what might have been. Dragon-fire and savage swords in Eriador! There might be no Queen in Gondor. We might now only hope to return from the victory here to ruin and ash. But that has been averted # because I met Thorin Oakenshield one evening on the edge of spring not far from Bree. A chance-meeting, as we say in Middle-earth.''
2) ''Saruman was little appeased by this answer (for he hated mockery, however gentle), and he said then coldly: 'You …
1) ''It might have gone very differently indeed. The main attack was diverted southwards, it is true; and yet even so with his far-stretched right hand Sauron could have done terrible harm in the North, while we defended Gondor, if King Brand and King Dàin had not stood in his path. When you think of the great Battle of Pelennor, do not forget the Battle of Dale. Think of what might have been. Dragon-fire and savage swords in Eriador! There might be no Queen in Gondor. We might now only hope to return from the victory here to ruin and ash. But that has been averted # because I met Thorin Oakenshield one evening on the edge of spring not far from Bree. A chance-meeting, as we say in Middle-earth.''
2) ''Saruman was little appeased by this answer (for he hated mockery, however gentle), and he said then coldly: 'You jest, Lord Mithrandir, as is your way. I know well enough that you have become a curious explorer of the small: weeds, wild things, and childish folk. Your time is your own to spend, if you have nothing worthier to do; and your friends you may make as you please. But to me the days are too dark for wanderers' tales, and I have no time for the simples of peasants.''
Gandalf did not laugh again; and he did not answer, but looking keenly at Saruman he drew on his pipe and sent out a great ring of smoke with many smaller rings that followed it. Then he put up his hand, as if to grasp them, and they vanished. With that he got up and left Saruman without another word; but Saruman stood for some time silent, and his face was dark with doubt and displeasure.''
For this, I interrupted my run through the unread Tanya Huff on my shelf--'cause all apologies to Ms. Huff and all, but Tolkien trumps her, and I'd gotten into quite the mood to check me out some of the Tolkien material I'd never read once I heard that The Children of Húrin was coming out. So I went and picked up a copy of Unfinished Tales to see what it had to offer.
If you're looking for a complete and cohesive narrative, this isn't it. Unfinished Tales is exactly what the title advertises--a collection of fairly well sketched out but never actually fully completed stories out of the Middle-Earth timeline. Some are more complete than others, such as the shorter version of The Children of Húrin which appears here. There's some good background material on Galadriel, and a fairly interesting tale of one of the Númenorian princes and the woman …
For this, I interrupted my run through the unread Tanya Huff on my shelf--'cause all apologies to Ms. Huff and all, but Tolkien trumps her, and I'd gotten into quite the mood to check me out some of the Tolkien material I'd never read once I heard that The Children of Húrin was coming out. So I went and picked up a copy of Unfinished Tales to see what it had to offer.
If you're looking for a complete and cohesive narrative, this isn't it. Unfinished Tales is exactly what the title advertises--a collection of fairly well sketched out but never actually fully completed stories out of the Middle-Earth timeline. Some are more complete than others, such as the shorter version of The Children of Húrin which appears here. There's some good background material on Galadriel, and a fairly interesting tale of one of the Númenorian princes and the woman who wound up marrying him--and how she had to constantly fight with the sea for his attentions. Further on, you get some accounts of how the friendship between Gondor and Rohan arose, and even some basic notes on the palantirs.
Anyone who has a geeky sort of interest in how Tolkien put his world together will probably get a kick out of reading this stuff, especially any Tolkien fans who are themselves aspiring writers and want to get a better grasp of the sheer magnitude of the world Tolkien created. Be prepared for doing a lot of skimming, though. The pages are heavily footnoted, and the footnotes, written by J.R.R.'s son Christopher, are often paragraphs in and of themselves. There are also several lengthy introductions and appendices all over the place, making the book a lot more academic and formal in presentation than one might want for a light read. Three and a half stars on general Tolkien-loving principle, though half a star off for the dryness.
