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• Publisher: Del Rey
• Edition: Paperback (December 2001)
• Average Customer Rating:
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: 109366 (in Book)

EXCELLENT addition to ANY Tolkein readers collection!!

This is a book,I had owned since I was in the 8th grade(until it was "lost" during a home renovation,in 2002)and it had been PRICELESS to me,while navigating through the entire Middle-Earth history and geography!!It contains the name of EVERY SINGLE,place,character,BATTLE,ring,NECKLACE,sword etc...This book HAS IT ALL!!!ANYTHING,that had a name,is in here!! I used to always keep it handy,whenever delving into the(vast)chronicles of Middle-Earth,and trying to connect"Point A" to Point B" etc... I really can't say ENOUGH about this wonderful reference-book!! It's(in short)ESSENTIAL to the serious Tolkein reader!! I was hoping/praying that Amazon,would have this"gem"available!! I call it a gem,because I prized this book,as much as "Feanor"prized the Simirals!! I'll DEFINITELY,be getting another copy of this book!!!

Christopher Tolkien uses this book--`nuff said!

I think the best recommendation for this book comes from Christopher Tolkien. He said that from "frequent use" he found it to be "an admirable work of reference." (Unfinished Tales, p. 4).

I heartily concur. Having read the Pentalogue (Silmarillion-Hobbit-Lord of the Rings) twice, and this book clears up many of the obscure people, places, and events. Sometimes I have found the indices in "The Return of the King" to be wanting, or have wanted to have more of a dictionary- or cyclopedia-type entry. This book meets this need.

(In plain English, if you have a term paper to write, then get this book and save your grade.)

In fact, this book has no equals, and only two rivals: Tolkien's own indices, and Peter Kreeft's philosophical concordance found in "The Philosophy of Tolkien." (ISBN: 1586170252).

I have only two critiques. The first problem is that we have too many editions of Tolkien. We have no "Standard Text" with a universal pagination. This is really a problem that only the estate of JRR can solve. To his credit, Foster has a conversion formula on page 569, which is on some help. However, I still find myself flipping pages with my newer film tie-in editions.

Secondly, I would have like to have an enlarged edition of this book. I would keep the entries, but also expand them. Entries would include literary aspects of the characters, Christian symbolism of the characters, and also "behind the scenes" information form the 12 Lost Tales books and Tolkien's letters. (Such as the comments on Tom Bombadil. ) A model for this book is the Star Wars Databank web-page. This may require a multi-volume encyclopedia. So be it--Tolkien is worth it.

Until this big book get compiled, we can count upon Foster's book to do the job that we need it to do, and this is to enliven Tolkien's masterwork.

A MUST HAVE!!!

This is the BEST Guide to the world of Middle-Earth. I'm always looking up names and places, and different things in this book: I always keep it handy. Seriously this is one of the BEST companion LOTR books you can buy! I LOVE IT!