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The Ultimate Unofficial Guide to Tolkien’s World
Tolkien's Middle Earth continues to capture the global imagination. In this accessible (but unofficial) guide, this sometimes confusing world is broken down into bite-sized sections that bring it to life for the newcomer and the fanatic alike.
Become an expert in Tolkien's world – the easy way! The Ultimate Unofficial Guide to Tolkien’s World offers something that’s never been attempted before: a single timeline, in chronological order, of all the events in Tolkien’s notorious complex books.
Why was it so shocking that Galadriel gave three strands of her golden hair to Gimli the Dwarf? Why is Sauron afraid of Aragorn’s sword? Why does a Balrog lurk under a dwarven underground city and how did the seven lost Seeing Stones come into being? How did the hobbits manage to have such a peaceful life? Who were the warriors whose corpse lights hover in the Dead Marshes?
From handy lists of characters, places, weapons and types of magic to the 150 illustrations capturing overlooked details such as armour colours, heraldic signs and crests, this easy-to-follow guide to Middle Earth will ensure you’re never baffled by alternate character names, confusing mythologies or labyrinthine plots again.
Become an expert in Tolkien's world – the easy way! The Ultimate Unofficial Guide to Tolkien’s World offers something that’s never been attempted before: a single timeline, in chronological order, of all the events in Tolkien’s notorious complex books.
Why was it so shocking that Galadriel gave three strands of her golden hair to Gimli the Dwarf? Why is Sauron afraid of Aragorn’s sword? Why does a Balrog lurk under a dwarven underground city and how did the seven lost Seeing Stones come into being? How did the hobbits manage to have such a peaceful life? Who were the warriors whose corpse lights hover in the Dead Marshes?
From handy lists of characters, places, weapons and types of magic to the 150 illustrations capturing overlooked details such as armour colours, heraldic signs and crests, this easy-to-follow guide to Middle Earth will ensure you’re never baffled by alternate character names, confusing mythologies or labyrinthine plots again.
304 pages, Hardcover
First published November 14, 2023
15 people are currently reading
143 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews
August 16, 2023
This is quite the thorough work of nerdiness that pleases my little Hobbitish heart.
Although I do find this is more for beginners and initiates in the Tolkien corpus (old hands and Hobbits will be already entirely familiar with the contents), I have to commend Cummins for being able to organise the labyrinthine collection of Midde-earth writings the Professor left us with into a timeline that you can follow. Yes, again it's nothing new to old hands and Hobbits, but I do know enough people that struggle with the enormous pile of Tolkien lore and give up in frustration as well as some that don't want to read past LOTR/The Hobbit for fear of getting lost in the bog of stories. This book is for them.
Neatly divided in sixteen parts with an intro and a conclusion (and appendixes, heh, what would a Tolkien book without appendixes be?), it covers everything from the Creation (told in The Silmarillion) to the Fourth Age (post-LOTR) in a very orderly chronological presentation. Chronological is key here, because J. R. R. Tolkien didn't leave things laid out in chronological order and his world can be confusing for beginners. Besides, it has tables with figures, illustrations, graphics, to accompany and illustrate the data.
I do think the illustrations were too basic, even doodle-like, and that wasn't much to my liking. I've become too accustomed to seeing excellent artwork for Tolkien's books, done by great and award-winning artists, so to find this basic and childlike type of drawings here was disappointing. There should've been more effort gone into the graphics and illustrations, because they're so underwhelming and it don't match expectations. If you are going to explain all the colours of the heraldry and clothes and weaponry and such, but then show school-like drawings, it doesn't look as good as it should.
3.5 stars it is. Such care and effort put into the writing deserved better graphics.
I received an ARC through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
Although I do find this is more for beginners and initiates in the Tolkien corpus (old hands and Hobbits will be already entirely familiar with the contents), I have to commend Cummins for being able to organise the labyrinthine collection of Midde-earth writings the Professor left us with into a timeline that you can follow. Yes, again it's nothing new to old hands and Hobbits, but I do know enough people that struggle with the enormous pile of Tolkien lore and give up in frustration as well as some that don't want to read past LOTR/The Hobbit for fear of getting lost in the bog of stories. This book is for them.
Neatly divided in sixteen parts with an intro and a conclusion (and appendixes, heh, what would a Tolkien book without appendixes be?), it covers everything from the Creation (told in The Silmarillion) to the Fourth Age (post-LOTR) in a very orderly chronological presentation. Chronological is key here, because J. R. R. Tolkien didn't leave things laid out in chronological order and his world can be confusing for beginners. Besides, it has tables with figures, illustrations, graphics, to accompany and illustrate the data.
I do think the illustrations were too basic, even doodle-like, and that wasn't much to my liking. I've become too accustomed to seeing excellent artwork for Tolkien's books, done by great and award-winning artists, so to find this basic and childlike type of drawings here was disappointing. There should've been more effort gone into the graphics and illustrations, because they're so underwhelming and it don't match expectations. If you are going to explain all the colours of the heraldry and clothes and weaponry and such, but then show school-like drawings, it doesn't look as good as it should.
3.5 stars it is. Such care and effort put into the writing deserved better graphics.
I received an ARC through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
August 27, 2023
I can't fault the author's enthusiasm, but this simplifies things to the point where the wonder is lost. And the art feels very amateurish. Do not recommend.
August 16, 2023
Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an ARC in return for a fair review:
I'm not a Tolkien superfan, and I'm definitely not a Tolkien scholar. While I like his work, I find some of his prose a little too esoteric to always fully comprehend. Yeah, I've read more than just The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings trilogy, but I have my limits. Still, I want to understand all the interlocking references, meanings and backstories throughout his works. Previously, I turned to several frequently contradictory wiki websites and occasionally asked reddit. It was a low and grinding process that made it hard to quickly check references.
This book is meant to fix that problem. It's not a glossary or a long list of names, it's a comprehensive guide for someone who knows something about Tolkien's Legendarium, but not everything. I imagine it will also be a good resource for people who are largely familiar with his entire work, but want a reference or a refresher that doesn't just remind, but explains.
Having all the information easily available in consistent prose, in chronological order, helps lay bare connections between stories that may have been difficult to glean earlier, with the stories spread out in multiple books, over the multiple different prose styles Tolkien employed. In general, I can't praise the book enough for being as chronological as possible. For the first time, I finally fully understand the different Ages constantly referenced in Tolkien's work, and I've been familiar with it for years and years.
The book also does an excellent job of drawing parallels-- when we run into a story that will have important ramifications later, that's mentioned. When we run into a story that's referenced elsewhere, it's noted. Motifs and themes are elaborated on as well-- the repeated references to floods, the difference between north and south, etc. The book analyzes as well as explains, making it an excellent beginner's guide and refresher. The wording is clear and precise.
There are some things that fans may not like, though I can understand why they are there. This is meant to be a guide, so it answers questions that are often accepted as ambiguous or unanswerable by fandom at large (it comes down strongly on one side of the Balrogs-Wings debate, for example). It also features extremely minimalist illustrations, which may seem odd for fans more accustomed to the lush maximalism of most Tolkien depictions. This is, I believe, ultimately a good choice: the illustrations are meant to clarify information, not distract the reader, but it is a marked change from how Tolkien's works are usually visually depicted.
Ultimately, I think it's a wonderful guide, and I highly recommend it to anyone who struggles to keep all of the legendarium in mind, or simply wants a refresher that's more comprehensive than a glossary.
I'm not a Tolkien superfan, and I'm definitely not a Tolkien scholar. While I like his work, I find some of his prose a little too esoteric to always fully comprehend. Yeah, I've read more than just The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings trilogy, but I have my limits. Still, I want to understand all the interlocking references, meanings and backstories throughout his works. Previously, I turned to several frequently contradictory wiki websites and occasionally asked reddit. It was a low and grinding process that made it hard to quickly check references.
This book is meant to fix that problem. It's not a glossary or a long list of names, it's a comprehensive guide for someone who knows something about Tolkien's Legendarium, but not everything. I imagine it will also be a good resource for people who are largely familiar with his entire work, but want a reference or a refresher that doesn't just remind, but explains.
Having all the information easily available in consistent prose, in chronological order, helps lay bare connections between stories that may have been difficult to glean earlier, with the stories spread out in multiple books, over the multiple different prose styles Tolkien employed. In general, I can't praise the book enough for being as chronological as possible. For the first time, I finally fully understand the different Ages constantly referenced in Tolkien's work, and I've been familiar with it for years and years.
The book also does an excellent job of drawing parallels-- when we run into a story that will have important ramifications later, that's mentioned. When we run into a story that's referenced elsewhere, it's noted. Motifs and themes are elaborated on as well-- the repeated references to floods, the difference between north and south, etc. The book analyzes as well as explains, making it an excellent beginner's guide and refresher. The wording is clear and precise.
There are some things that fans may not like, though I can understand why they are there. This is meant to be a guide, so it answers questions that are often accepted as ambiguous or unanswerable by fandom at large (it comes down strongly on one side of the Balrogs-Wings debate, for example). It also features extremely minimalist illustrations, which may seem odd for fans more accustomed to the lush maximalism of most Tolkien depictions. This is, I believe, ultimately a good choice: the illustrations are meant to clarify information, not distract the reader, but it is a marked change from how Tolkien's works are usually visually depicted.
Ultimately, I think it's a wonderful guide, and I highly recommend it to anyone who struggles to keep all of the legendarium in mind, or simply wants a refresher that's more comprehensive than a glossary.
November 8, 2023
The Ultimate Unofficial Guide to Tolkien's World by Antony Cummins is one of the best books for those who want to wander but get lost in Tolkien's universe.
This ultimate guide provides a complex explanation from the beginning of Midle-Earth. If you ever felt lost in Tolkien's outstanding work, the author got yours back.
Simple, clean, and easily understandable. Every fan needs this book on his shelf.
Thank you, NetGalley and Watkins Publishing for this unique opportunity.
This ultimate guide provides a complex explanation from the beginning of Midle-Earth. If you ever felt lost in Tolkien's outstanding work, the author got yours back.
Simple, clean, and easily understandable. Every fan needs this book on his shelf.
Thank you, NetGalley and Watkins Publishing for this unique opportunity.
October 1, 2023
My thanks to both NetGalley and the publisher Watkins Publishing for an advance copy of this look at the rich world that J. R. R. Tolkien created along with helpful historical notes, and other asides that makes reading the adventures of Hobbits even more entertaining.
As a child I was a weird little reader, loving comics, pop-up books, magazines about cars and science, and really anything else I could find. Books of fables, with Hardy Boys and raids on my parents bookshelfs, with college textbooks, nursing guides and other weird books. I was about six when I started reading The Hobbit. I think it was a choice between a Grolier's edition of The Three Musketeers, which I still have, and a white paperback that just seemed easier to carry around, which I still have. And it was locked in from the opening. Much went over my head, but there was so much I loved, and can still remember, spiders, trolls, dragons, eagles and things that lurked in the dark. I began to pick up books that looked like The Hobbit, and from there my genre love began. I still have most of them, including the many compendiums and role playing games based in Middle Earth. The Ultimate Unofficial Guide to Tolkien's World by veteran compiler and writer Antony Cummins is one of the best works on Tolkien's Middle Earth stories that I have read. A history of the ages, with notes, explanations, illustrations, lists and and fun facts, extremely well-written and very easy to follow along with.
The book begins with a general introduction and explanation for the book with is a chronological history of Tolkein's Middle Earth, from it's creation and Gods, to a bit past the end of the Lord of the Rings and the Third Age. Much has been collected since the death of Tolkein, who loved to fiddle with ideas, sometimes growing bored and not completeing something, or interrupted and starting anew somewhere else. The book can be used by role players, cosplayers and fans of the work. There are illustrations to go along with sections, featuring armor, towers, creatures and more. Cummins includes historical asides, where this myth might come from, where this could be, and what Tolkein was involved in when writing some of these stories. Sometimes certain questions can't be answered, and Cummins will also add that as an aside.
A fascinating book that can be read straight through as I did, or just flipped through as the book is broken into sections, and then events. I can't imagine the research and work that Cummins had to do to make this book. Tolkien would write great idea on napkins at lunch, years later following up with even more expanded ideas. I know a lot of work by Christopher Tolkein has been done to present his father's ideas to the world, but reading those books can be a bit of a slog. Cummins here has brought it all into one place, and distilled it down perfectly, making the history readable, and fun. Each page is just full of information and ideas. Pointing out that the members of the Fellowship did not swear oaths to do their quest, so as not to be called oath-breakers if they failed in a task that was considered in many ways a suicide mission. The bits of information on Hobbits, the Shire, and all the other places. I would have gone crazy for this book years ago. About as crazy as I have now.
A fantastic book for fans, role players and writers who want to work on their skills developing ideas and how to include them in the narrative. I really am impressed by the work that Antony Cummins has done, and will have to look for more by this author. A fantastic gift for the holidays for any fantasy loving fan.
As a child I was a weird little reader, loving comics, pop-up books, magazines about cars and science, and really anything else I could find. Books of fables, with Hardy Boys and raids on my parents bookshelfs, with college textbooks, nursing guides and other weird books. I was about six when I started reading The Hobbit. I think it was a choice between a Grolier's edition of The Three Musketeers, which I still have, and a white paperback that just seemed easier to carry around, which I still have. And it was locked in from the opening. Much went over my head, but there was so much I loved, and can still remember, spiders, trolls, dragons, eagles and things that lurked in the dark. I began to pick up books that looked like The Hobbit, and from there my genre love began. I still have most of them, including the many compendiums and role playing games based in Middle Earth. The Ultimate Unofficial Guide to Tolkien's World by veteran compiler and writer Antony Cummins is one of the best works on Tolkien's Middle Earth stories that I have read. A history of the ages, with notes, explanations, illustrations, lists and and fun facts, extremely well-written and very easy to follow along with.
The book begins with a general introduction and explanation for the book with is a chronological history of Tolkein's Middle Earth, from it's creation and Gods, to a bit past the end of the Lord of the Rings and the Third Age. Much has been collected since the death of Tolkein, who loved to fiddle with ideas, sometimes growing bored and not completeing something, or interrupted and starting anew somewhere else. The book can be used by role players, cosplayers and fans of the work. There are illustrations to go along with sections, featuring armor, towers, creatures and more. Cummins includes historical asides, where this myth might come from, where this could be, and what Tolkein was involved in when writing some of these stories. Sometimes certain questions can't be answered, and Cummins will also add that as an aside.
A fascinating book that can be read straight through as I did, or just flipped through as the book is broken into sections, and then events. I can't imagine the research and work that Cummins had to do to make this book. Tolkien would write great idea on napkins at lunch, years later following up with even more expanded ideas. I know a lot of work by Christopher Tolkein has been done to present his father's ideas to the world, but reading those books can be a bit of a slog. Cummins here has brought it all into one place, and distilled it down perfectly, making the history readable, and fun. Each page is just full of information and ideas. Pointing out that the members of the Fellowship did not swear oaths to do their quest, so as not to be called oath-breakers if they failed in a task that was considered in many ways a suicide mission. The bits of information on Hobbits, the Shire, and all the other places. I would have gone crazy for this book years ago. About as crazy as I have now.
A fantastic book for fans, role players and writers who want to work on their skills developing ideas and how to include them in the narrative. I really am impressed by the work that Antony Cummins has done, and will have to look for more by this author. A fantastic gift for the holidays for any fantasy loving fan.
August 27, 2023
I am a huge Lord of the Rings Fan. Huge. In fact, I'm getting a tattoo of Galadriel on Friday. I will however admit that I'm a bit rusty on the entire lore of Tolkien's world. So when I was selected to be an advance reviewer on The Ultimate Unofficial Guide to Tolkien's World by Antony Cummins, I was stoked! I'm not usually an "unofficial guide of" reader, but this had me interested as the world of Tolkien is so complex and has sooo many nuances.
The Positives:
I dove right into it as soon as I got it, and spent quite a bit of time reading through it. I think the foreward addresses the need for this book the best - Lord of the Rings et al are behemoths to get into as a series. There are so many books, so many pages, and so many side stories. For someone new to Lord of the Rings, or even a younger reader, it can be daunting and, as Cummins put it "inaccessible", which I totally agree with. I read LOTR when I was about 12, and was hooked, and even then there were aspects that I didn't completely understand (nor care about, sorry JRR). I think the Ultimate Unofficial Guide to Tolkiens World fills a void for young readers, or readers who frankly don't have the patience to get through the entire series. It also provides a nice chronological view of the series, and does it well and in an approachable way. There's a handy glossary and a handful of illustrations to help the reader along the way.
The Not As Positives:
I am reading this book several months before it's publishing date, so I do have some edits/recommendations/nit picks. The illustrations are handy but could use some tuning up or more detail. I love the basic language used, but it would be so so beneficial to readers to provide references (footnotes, book call outs) throughout each one of the sections, so readers who are following along can have some sort of reference to the source material.
Takeaways:
4/5 Stars (again pre-publishing!). Knocking a star off right now as the reference material doesn't have the call outs, and as a LOTR fan already, this isn't something that I'd say ALL LOTR fans need in their shelf, but is good for those who are more familiar with the films. I will definitely be purchasing this to have in my collection, and eventually to help introduce my kids one day to the World of Tolkien. It makes it so accessible. Great read, and thank you so much for putting this all together.
The Positives:
I dove right into it as soon as I got it, and spent quite a bit of time reading through it. I think the foreward addresses the need for this book the best - Lord of the Rings et al are behemoths to get into as a series. There are so many books, so many pages, and so many side stories. For someone new to Lord of the Rings, or even a younger reader, it can be daunting and, as Cummins put it "inaccessible", which I totally agree with. I read LOTR when I was about 12, and was hooked, and even then there were aspects that I didn't completely understand (nor care about, sorry JRR). I think the Ultimate Unofficial Guide to Tolkiens World fills a void for young readers, or readers who frankly don't have the patience to get through the entire series. It also provides a nice chronological view of the series, and does it well and in an approachable way. There's a handy glossary and a handful of illustrations to help the reader along the way.
The Not As Positives:
I am reading this book several months before it's publishing date, so I do have some edits/recommendations/nit picks. The illustrations are handy but could use some tuning up or more detail. I love the basic language used, but it would be so so beneficial to readers to provide references (footnotes, book call outs) throughout each one of the sections, so readers who are following along can have some sort of reference to the source material.
Takeaways:
4/5 Stars (again pre-publishing!). Knocking a star off right now as the reference material doesn't have the call outs, and as a LOTR fan already, this isn't something that I'd say ALL LOTR fans need in their shelf, but is good for those who are more familiar with the films. I will definitely be purchasing this to have in my collection, and eventually to help introduce my kids one day to the World of Tolkien. It makes it so accessible. Great read, and thank you so much for putting this all together.
November 15, 2023
The Ultimate Unofficial Guide to Tolkien's World by Antony Cummins was an amazing book especially if you're are fan or a new fan of Tolkien's works and want to wander into and get lost in Tolkien's universe. This new take is the ultimate Unofficial Guide to Tolkien’s World offers something that’s never been attempted before: a single timeline, in chronological order, of all the events in Tolkien’s notorious complex books. Which I loved when I was younger! and still do so this book was a lovely surprise!
This wonderful book answer's most of the questions you quizzed yourself when you read them or watched the Lord of the Ring films!
So, why was it so shocking that Galadriel gave three strands of her golden hair to Gimli the Dwarf?
Why is Sauron afraid of Aragorn’s sword?
Why does a Balrog lurk under a Dwarven underground city and how did the seven lost Seeing Stones come into being?
How did the hobbits manage to have such a peaceful life?
Who were the warriors whose corpse lights hover in the Dead Marshes?
Why? Why? and how? WoW!!
There are many handy lists of characters, places, weapons and types of magic throughout this wonderful book with over 140+ illustrations capturing all the overlooked details such as the armour colours, heraldic signs and crests.
It is also an easy-to-follow guide to Middle Earth will ensure you’re never baffled by alternate character names, confusing mythologies or labyrinthine plots again.
WoW..........This book just gives and gives!......and a great book to have in your Tolkien - Lord of the Ring's collection...........and a great book for old fans and especially for new fans of Tolkien's wonderful works........
A great Christmas or Birthday gift and the cover was basic but was beautiful for this book....
Big Thank you, NetGalley and Watkins Publishing for my ARC in exchange for an honest review,
This wonderful book answer's most of the questions you quizzed yourself when you read them or watched the Lord of the Ring films!
So, why was it so shocking that Galadriel gave three strands of her golden hair to Gimli the Dwarf?
Why is Sauron afraid of Aragorn’s sword?
Why does a Balrog lurk under a Dwarven underground city and how did the seven lost Seeing Stones come into being?
How did the hobbits manage to have such a peaceful life?
Who were the warriors whose corpse lights hover in the Dead Marshes?
Why? Why? and how? WoW!!
There are many handy lists of characters, places, weapons and types of magic throughout this wonderful book with over 140+ illustrations capturing all the overlooked details such as the armour colours, heraldic signs and crests.
It is also an easy-to-follow guide to Middle Earth will ensure you’re never baffled by alternate character names, confusing mythologies or labyrinthine plots again.
WoW..........This book just gives and gives!......and a great book to have in your Tolkien - Lord of the Ring's collection...........and a great book for old fans and especially for new fans of Tolkien's wonderful works........
A great Christmas or Birthday gift and the cover was basic but was beautiful for this book....
Big Thank you, NetGalley and Watkins Publishing for my ARC in exchange for an honest review,
December 18, 2023
Thank you for this very understandable and comprehensive guide to JRR Tolkien's writings! I have watched the films by Peter Jackson and not read any of his books or watched the more recent TV shows. My son has read it all and is a huge Tolkien fan and sometimes I think I might try his patience with all of my questions and inability to remember all the interconnections and worlds and characters. Now thanks to this book, I have a clear reference book to help me understand the origins of the stories. It is a great go-to guide for learning about characters and events in the books. The layout is helpful because it is broken into clear sections connected to the books or stories. Within each passage is a bolded headline for example "Bilbo Baggins enters the lonely mountain." The author also lays out what happens in the 60 year period between the events in the Hobbit and The Lord of The Rings -- again extremely helpful! The aim of this book was to outline a chronology of key events and in my view, the author has succeeded.
I did receive an advance copy but plan to buy this book to keep as a reference. I will be able to elevate the types of questions I ask my son and can't wait to surprise him with my new knowledge!
Thank you to Netgalley and Watkins Publishing for an ARC and I left this review voluntarily.
I did receive an advance copy but plan to buy this book to keep as a reference. I will be able to elevate the types of questions I ask my son and can't wait to surprise him with my new knowledge!
Thank you to Netgalley and Watkins Publishing for an ARC and I left this review voluntarily.
November 25, 2023
Anthony Cummins takes on the impressive task of gathering Tolkien’s lore—starting from the creation of everything and ending in the Fourth Age after Frodo and Bilbo leave Middle-Earth. He reframes the gods, demigods, and mortal races with epitaphs and monikers to make each character easily identifiable to the uninitiated reader.
Cummins accomplishes his task well! This book is best read by the casual Tolkien fan or the reader who wants to understand the broad strokes of Tolkien’s profound lore without tackling the detailed (and sometimes confusing) text that is The Silmarillion. With this book, he manages to take thousands of pages of lore and condense them into this 480-page book; while much nuance is lost, he keeps the broad narrative consistent and coherent, which impressed me greatly.
I enjoyed my time with Cummins' The Ultimate Unofficial Guide to Tolkien’s World. However, as a long-time Tolkien fan, I skimmed past parts I was intimately familiar with—mainly when I got to the Third Age, which covers the Lord of the Rings trilogy. That said, I recognize the insurmountable task Cummins took on and the skill with which he tackled it. I highly recommend this one for anyone who wants a solid introduction to Tolkien’s world—from Middle-Earth to the Grey Havens and beyond.
Cummins accomplishes his task well! This book is best read by the casual Tolkien fan or the reader who wants to understand the broad strokes of Tolkien’s profound lore without tackling the detailed (and sometimes confusing) text that is The Silmarillion. With this book, he manages to take thousands of pages of lore and condense them into this 480-page book; while much nuance is lost, he keeps the broad narrative consistent and coherent, which impressed me greatly.
I enjoyed my time with Cummins' The Ultimate Unofficial Guide to Tolkien’s World. However, as a long-time Tolkien fan, I skimmed past parts I was intimately familiar with—mainly when I got to the Third Age, which covers the Lord of the Rings trilogy. That said, I recognize the insurmountable task Cummins took on and the skill with which he tackled it. I highly recommend this one for anyone who wants a solid introduction to Tolkien’s world—from Middle-Earth to the Grey Havens and beyond.
August 21, 2023
The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings series are some of my favorite books. They are books that draw you in and make you feel like you are there. However, it is not always easy for me to keep the characters and events from mixing together. Add to that me not being able to understand The Silmarillion at all, and seeing why having a guide to everything makes sense. That's why I wanted to read The Ultimate Unofficial Guide to Tolkien's World. I was not disappointed in it. There are very thorough explanations of the characters, events, and important points that help you to connect everything together.
The book is organized in chronological order, so you get a better idea of how the events and ages in the series happen. I think it is a handy guide no matter how well you understand Tolkien's writings. The only thing that would like to see added is a pronunciation guide for names and words. I'd like to know that I was saying the names correctly when I read the books.
I received a free copy from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
The book is organized in chronological order, so you get a better idea of how the events and ages in the series happen. I think it is a handy guide no matter how well you understand Tolkien's writings. The only thing that would like to see added is a pronunciation guide for names and words. I'd like to know that I was saying the names correctly when I read the books.
I received a free copy from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
September 28, 2023
Thank you to NetGalley & the publisher for this ARC of The Ultimate Unofficial Guide to Tolkien's World in exchange for an honest review! I think Antony Cummins did such a great job with this guide. I love how it is comprehensive while still being comprehensible! This book is for anyone who is interested in reading Tolkien's books, especially those about the time before The Hobbit and The Lord of The Rings, but is a little intimidated by them. This guide will really be such a great companion. The chronological breakdown of events will help keep everything straight in your mind. I also think just reading this guide by itself will really get people interested in the books that are being described. It provides the perfect taste of these stories and will leave you wanting to experience them for yourself. It also works to help refresh your memory if you're already familiar with Tolkien's world, while also bringing in some fascinating connections you might not have made on your own.
August 29, 2023
The Ultimate Unofficial Guide to Tolkien’s World is an easy to read guide, that helps to make the world of Tolkien more accessible.
As a huge fan of Lord of the Rings I have always found Tolkien’s world to be quite daunting. There are so many books all detailing a wide history of the world, it is hard to know where to start and what order to read them in.
This guide makes it very straightforward, it provides a detailed yet simplistic explanation of the events in the world in chronological order.
It is great to read as a stand-alone if you would prefer not to read the books, or as a companion to reading them all.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book and will be using this guide when I complete my binge read of Tolkien’s work.
My only complaint is that I feel like the drawings detract from the book. The look like childish drawings that should be in a children’s novel.
A huge thanks to NetGalley and Watkins Publishing for providing me with this arc.
As a huge fan of Lord of the Rings I have always found Tolkien’s world to be quite daunting. There are so many books all detailing a wide history of the world, it is hard to know where to start and what order to read them in.
This guide makes it very straightforward, it provides a detailed yet simplistic explanation of the events in the world in chronological order.
It is great to read as a stand-alone if you would prefer not to read the books, or as a companion to reading them all.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book and will be using this guide when I complete my binge read of Tolkien’s work.
My only complaint is that I feel like the drawings detract from the book. The look like childish drawings that should be in a children’s novel.
A huge thanks to NetGalley and Watkins Publishing for providing me with this arc.
December 6, 2023
The Ultimate Unofficial Guide to Tolkien's World Is an amazing, all encompassing history of Tolkien’s world he created for the Lord of the Rings. It breaks down all of the history in easily digestible pieces and does its best to capture each character in this vast world. It moves through the history and explains wars, name changes of characters, the gods and their doings, and everything you can imagine when first learning about Tolkien’s work. I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It’s EXTREMELY in depth and does not leave a stone unturned. The only down side I feel is there’s A LOT of history that predates the Lord of the Rings that it takes a long time to get to parts that are more familiar and main stream. I loved the layout of the book and it does remind me a bit of history textbooks from school but that gives it a certain appeal I liked. If you’re new to Tolkien or just want a better understanding of all the history and lore in the world, this would be a great book to pick up.
August 24, 2023
Based on this authors “other books” section, this is the first Tolkien book the author has done - really the first fiction-based book. However, I do see the intentionality the author had in writing this book and I admire the effort to put forward what is a complicated mythology and immense timeline into an easier to understand format. The one place this book could provide a better introduction to the Tolkien universe would be in the illustrations, otherwise, this book is a great introduction and a wonderful reference to the complex, and often hard to understand, Middle Earth mythology. This book also inspired me to re-read The Silmarillion and Unfinished Tales again as I definitely remember some things differently in those books than the author talks about here.
August 17, 2023
I think this would be a great guide for anyone who is new to Tolkien's World. The information is neatly divided, clear and concise.
I have to commend the author on how well he compiled the history/lore, especially with it being in chronological order. I think that could be such a useful tool for future readers.
The illustrations are very basic but I actually think that works well with the style of this book. It doesn't distract the reader but rather it just aides in providing information.
Very enjoyable read!
Thank you Antony Cummins , Net Galley and Watkins Publishing for providing me with an ARC of this book.
I have to commend the author on how well he compiled the history/lore, especially with it being in chronological order. I think that could be such a useful tool for future readers.
The illustrations are very basic but I actually think that works well with the style of this book. It doesn't distract the reader but rather it just aides in providing information.
Very enjoyable read!
Thank you Antony Cummins , Net Galley and Watkins Publishing for providing me with an ARC of this book.
December 10, 2023
This is a must read for a fan of any LOTR and other books by JRR Tolkein. I liked the accompanying photos. It is a great reference for those confused by events and/or wanting to know more. I think this was be a good book to have on hand for those new to reading JRR Tolkien because he is big on hard names and places.
I really enjoyed this and it made my understanding of all of his work even more clear.
Thanks to Antony Cummins, Netgalley and Watakins Publishing for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Already available
I really enjoyed this and it made my understanding of all of his work even more clear.
Thanks to Antony Cummins, Netgalley and Watakins Publishing for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Already available
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April 18, 2025This was a great read! I loved the colours and small illustrations throughout, and I thought that the way it was broken up by the Ages made lots of sense and was very easy to understand. As someone familiar with Tolkien’s works, I found myself learning extra information I did not previously know, and the book provided extra clarification for the information I did have. I would recommend this to anyone looking for more knowledge of Tolkien’s world from the very beginning, through to the end of his works.
December 7, 2023
This is a fantastic refresher guide for those who are familiar with the world of Tolkien but need a little more of a concise guide. Paced in chronological order really helps to understand the plots and further sub plots of the books and the scattered illustrations provide great reference points.
As a whole I really enjoyed this and will be referencing back to this publication when in need of more guides to my Tolkien reading!
As a whole I really enjoyed this and will be referencing back to this publication when in need of more guides to my Tolkien reading!
November 27, 2023
This book is fabulous! It’s very informative and helps to delve into the world of middle earth! This is a perfect guide to fall alongside reading all of Tolkeins many magnificent stories.
I would highly recommend this book! Thank you to the author and publisher for allowing me to ARC read this and for helping me develop a greater understanding of this magical universe.
I would highly recommend this book! Thank you to the author and publisher for allowing me to ARC read this and for helping me develop a greater understanding of this magical universe.
November 7, 2023
Tolkien's world is very complex and there's always something new to learn. This is a well researched and informative book.
Well done, recommended
Many thanks to the publisher for this ARC, all opinions are mine
Well done, recommended
Many thanks to the publisher for this ARC, all opinions are mine
August 23, 2023
A good book for those wanting more after reading all of Tolkien's work, or a book to have at one's side while reading through his writings. Either way, a valuable edition to any fan's library.
dnf
December 9, 2023I would like to thank netgalley and Watkins Publishing for a free copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
Just lost interest.
Just lost interest.
January 8, 2024
Ls?foc!!elz!eofkfk!
January 12, 2025
This is an excellent, plain-English summary of Tolkien’s legendarium. But I still recommend reading the source books, from the ones you know to the ones you might not (which are mentioned in the bibliography of this guide).
February 20, 2024
As someone who is slowly becoming a fan of Tolkien and his world, this was a fantastic book to read! It provided such a good level of background that isn't available in the Hobbit or Lord of the Rings trilogy, as well as a summary of the events in those books. Cummins did a great job for anyone who has already read the original books and wants a refresher, or someone who wants to get into Tolkien's work and doesn't know where to start.
*Projected release date- November 13th 2023*
Thank you to NetGalley and Watkins Publishing for the ARC!
*Projected release date- November 13th 2023*
Thank you to NetGalley and Watkins Publishing for the ARC!
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