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Tolkien Illustrated Guides
Guide to Tolkien's World: A Bestiary
A guide to all the living creatures that live in Tolkien's Middle Earth and Undying Lands, with information on their physical appearance, characteristics, language, and culture.
287 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1978
76 people are currently reading
13637 people want to read
About the author
David Day
276 books259 followersDavid Day (b. 14 October 1947 in Victoria, British Columbia) is a Canadian author of over forty books: poetry, natural history, ecology, mythology, fantasy, and children's literature. Internationally he is most notably known for his literary criticism on J. R. R. Tolkien and his works.
After finishing high school in Victoria, British Columbia, Day worked as a logger for five years on Vancouver Island before graduating from the University of Victoria. Subsequently he has travelled widely, most frequently to Greece and Britain.
Day has published six books of poems for adults and ten illustrated children's books of fiction and poetry. His non-fiction books on natural history include The Doomsday Book of Animals, The Whale War, Eco Wars: a Layman Guide to the Environmental Movement, Noah's Choice and most recently Nevermore: A Book of Hours - Meditations on Extinction (2012).
His Doomsday Book was a Time Magazine Book of the Year and became the basis for the 100 part animated-short TV series "Lost Animals of the 20th Century".
David Days best-selling books on the life and works of JRR Tolkien include: A Tolkien Bestiary, Tolkien: the Illustrated Encyclopedia, Tolkien's Ring, The World of Tolkien and The Hobbit Companion.
Day's Tolkien's Ring was illustrated by academy award-winning artist Alan Lee, as was Castles, The Animals Within, Gothic and Quest For King Arthur.
After finishing high school in Victoria, British Columbia, Day worked as a logger for five years on Vancouver Island before graduating from the University of Victoria. Subsequently he has travelled widely, most frequently to Greece and Britain.
Day has published six books of poems for adults and ten illustrated children's books of fiction and poetry. His non-fiction books on natural history include The Doomsday Book of Animals, The Whale War, Eco Wars: a Layman Guide to the Environmental Movement, Noah's Choice and most recently Nevermore: A Book of Hours - Meditations on Extinction (2012).
His Doomsday Book was a Time Magazine Book of the Year and became the basis for the 100 part animated-short TV series "Lost Animals of the 20th Century".
David Days best-selling books on the life and works of JRR Tolkien include: A Tolkien Bestiary, Tolkien: the Illustrated Encyclopedia, Tolkien's Ring, The World of Tolkien and The Hobbit Companion.
Day's Tolkien's Ring was illustrated by academy award-winning artist Alan Lee, as was Castles, The Animals Within, Gothic and Quest For King Arthur.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 164 reviews
February 10, 2017
In ye olden days of the mid-1980s books and bookstores focused on money and power. Finances and the law were hot topics...elves and magic, not so much. So when I, a humble Tolkien fan, discovered this brilliant tome of all things Tolkien I nearly cried.
A Tolkien Bestiary is an illustrated collection of Middle Earth creatures. The drawings are stark, they are beautiful, they evoke emotion and brought to life the author's work at a time when there was little else to go on visually aside from - though personally beloved and earnest as they were - honestly subpar animated movies.
I reveled in this thick book packed with all manner of man and monster. It sparked imagination in me in a way few things have ever done.
Rating: 4 stars w/an extra given purely out of love.
A Tolkien Bestiary is an illustrated collection of Middle Earth creatures. The drawings are stark, they are beautiful, they evoke emotion and brought to life the author's work at a time when there was little else to go on visually aside from - though personally beloved and earnest as they were - honestly subpar animated movies.
I reveled in this thick book packed with all manner of man and monster. It sparked imagination in me in a way few things have ever done.
Rating: 4 stars w/an extra given purely out of love.
April 14, 2018
The vast fantasy universe Tolkien created in all its many colours is complex and stretches further than most others (if not all.)
It depicts a huge wealth of races, cultures, languages and creatures. Some are inherently evil. Some are good. Some are neutral and serve only themselves. And some are controlled and manipulated by greater powers into doing another’s bidding. All in all, there are a lot of them and they all have their own animals that serve them. From dragons to horses, from Wargs to Ravens, David Day notes all that is to be found in middle earth. And, surprisingly, he even goes into extreme detail and talks about plants.
It’s all lavishly illustrated, though the images are not the usual romantic images I tend to associate with visions of middle-earth. They are stark with a tinge of brutal realism. I like them a lot.
A lot of dedication went into this work from a man who clearly appreciates middle earth and has gone to great lengths to illustrate what is to be found there.
Recommended reading for Tolkien enthusiasts.
It depicts a huge wealth of races, cultures, languages and creatures. Some are inherently evil. Some are good. Some are neutral and serve only themselves. And some are controlled and manipulated by greater powers into doing another’s bidding. All in all, there are a lot of them and they all have their own animals that serve them. From dragons to horses, from Wargs to Ravens, David Day notes all that is to be found in middle earth. And, surprisingly, he even goes into extreme detail and talks about plants.
It’s all lavishly illustrated, though the images are not the usual romantic images I tend to associate with visions of middle-earth. They are stark with a tinge of brutal realism. I like them a lot.
A lot of dedication went into this work from a man who clearly appreciates middle earth and has gone to great lengths to illustrate what is to be found there.
Recommended reading for Tolkien enthusiasts.
June 2, 2017
I recently found this book, an early edition published in 1983, at an antiques fair in Newark, UK. Being an ardent Tolkien reader and fan of his creation, 'Middle Earth', I snapped it up for a mere £5 note. What a stroke of luck! This book is a masterpiece, a truly wonderful depiction of Tolkien's creations by a group of gifted artists and illustrators, beautifully brought together by David Day. This is a very comprehensive work that all fans of Middle Earth and it's inhabitants (also of The Undying Lands), should devour, savouring every morsel and enjoying the detail and thoroughness of its contents, leaving no crumbs, until it is completely digested. I did and I am still gorged, satisfied that I am all the richer from the experience.
Thank you David Day for bringing Tolkien's imagination into 'physical' reality on the pages of this now treasured volume.
Thank you David Day for bringing Tolkien's imagination into 'physical' reality on the pages of this now treasured volume.
December 23, 2025
Il bestiario di Tolkien non è solo un'enciclopedia dei mostri creati dalla penna di Tolkien, ma anche dei popoli, dei luoghi, della natura e di molto altro, che hanno attraversato le storie narrate nel mondo immaginario di Arda.
David Day cerca di rendere la lettura più lineare possibile, dando la possibilità di leggere questa enciclopedia, come fosse una raccolta di racconti, ma le ripetizioni ci sono e fino a metà reggono ad una lettura dall'inizio alla fine. Il problema è che dopo la metà inizia a risultare tutto troppo ridondante. Il fatto è che trattasi, appunto, di un'enciclopedia e quindi da leggere per consultazione e per questo è magnifica. Poi l'aggiunta delle numerose illustrazioni, rendono ancora più affascinante la lettura, data anche da una narrazione da leggende dei tempi che furono, meravigliosamente ricche di fascino.
David Day cerca di rendere la lettura più lineare possibile, dando la possibilità di leggere questa enciclopedia, come fosse una raccolta di racconti, ma le ripetizioni ci sono e fino a metà reggono ad una lettura dall'inizio alla fine. Il problema è che dopo la metà inizia a risultare tutto troppo ridondante. Il fatto è che trattasi, appunto, di un'enciclopedia e quindi da leggere per consultazione e per questo è magnifica. Poi l'aggiunta delle numerose illustrazioni, rendono ancora più affascinante la lettura, data anche da una narrazione da leggende dei tempi che furono, meravigliosamente ricche di fascino.
July 1, 2018
A Tolkien Bestiary is certainly an indispensable work for any Tolkien devotee, and helps one get to grips with the elaborate world of the Undying Lands and Middle Earth. If you want to do some research into a topic related to Tolkien's world, the Bestiary provides a perfect source, without having to spend ages flipping through the pages of `The Hobbit', `The Lord of the Rings' and `The Silmarillion'.
Furthermore David Day, brings these works together, and presents the whole picture of Middle Earth.
One intriguing way in which this is done is through three beautifully illustrated sections in the book which trace the history of Tolkien's world, from the `Vision and Creation of Arda' to the `Departure of the Ringbearers'.
A Tolkien Bestiary is a highly comprehensive work, with maps, timelines and genealogies.
If one refers to the `Genealogy of the Races of Elves' for example, one can look at the entries for all the groups mentioned, starting with the lengthy article on Elves, as well as the smaller articles on the various other names used for Elves, such as `Fair Folk'.
One can then go on to look at the various families of Elfkind, and the entries under the different names for each.
Hence you can find articles on the Eldar also known West Elves, Avari also known as East Elves, Vanyar or Fair Elves, Noldor or Deep Elves, Sindar or Elves, Silvan or wood Elves etc.
Similarly this can be done with the other races of Middle Earth, the Dwarves, Men, Hobbits, Ents, Orcs, Trolls, Balrogs etc as well as the roles played by animals in Middle Earth.
What really makes the book a pleasurable experience to look at are the wonderful illustrations from the remarkably talented artists, in this work.
These drawings really bring Tolkien's work to life, and the colour illustrations are genuine works of art which make this book the perfect coffee table book.
A Tolkien Bestiary is certainly an indispensable work for any Tolkien devotee, and helps one get to grips with the elaborate world of the Undying Lands and Middle Earth. If you want to do some research into a topic related to Tolkien's world, the Bestiary provides a perfect source, without having to spend ages flipping through the pages of `The Hobbit', `The Lord of the Rings' and `The Silmarillion'.
Furthermore David Day, brings these works together, and presents the whole picture of Middle Earth.
One intriguing way in which this is done is through three beautifully illustrated sections in the book which trace the history of Tolkien's world, from the `Vision and Creation of Arda' to the `Departure of the Ringbearers'.
A Tolkien Bestiary is a highly comprehensive work, with maps, timelines and genealogies.
If one refers to the `Genealogy of the Races of Elves' for example, one can look at the entries for all the groups mentioned, starting with the lengthy article on Elves, as well as the smaller articles on the various other names used for Elves, such as `Fair Folk'.
One can then go on to look at the various families of Elfkind, and the entries under the different names for each.
Hence you can find articles on the Eldar also known West Elves, Avari also known as East Elves, Vanyar or Fair Elves, Noldor or Deep Elves, Sindar or Elves, Silvan or wood Elves etc.
Similarly this can be done with the other races of Middle Earth, the Dwarves, Men, Hobbits, Ents, Orcs, Trolls, Balrogs etc as well as the roles played by animals in Middle Earth.
What really makes the book a pleasurable experience to look at are the wonderful illustrations from the remarkably talented artists, in this work.
These drawings really bring Tolkien's work to life, and the colour illustrations are genuine works of art which make this book the perfect coffee table book.
Furthermore David Day, brings these works together, and presents the whole picture of Middle Earth.
One intriguing way in which this is done is through three beautifully illustrated sections in the book which trace the history of Tolkien's world, from the `Vision and Creation of Arda' to the `Departure of the Ringbearers'.
A Tolkien Bestiary is a highly comprehensive work, with maps, timelines and genealogies.
If one refers to the `Genealogy of the Races of Elves' for example, one can look at the entries for all the groups mentioned, starting with the lengthy article on Elves, as well as the smaller articles on the various other names used for Elves, such as `Fair Folk'.
One can then go on to look at the various families of Elfkind, and the entries under the different names for each.
Hence you can find articles on the Eldar also known West Elves, Avari also known as East Elves, Vanyar or Fair Elves, Noldor or Deep Elves, Sindar or Elves, Silvan or wood Elves etc.
Similarly this can be done with the other races of Middle Earth, the Dwarves, Men, Hobbits, Ents, Orcs, Trolls, Balrogs etc as well as the roles played by animals in Middle Earth.
What really makes the book a pleasurable experience to look at are the wonderful illustrations from the remarkably talented artists, in this work.
These drawings really bring Tolkien's work to life, and the colour illustrations are genuine works of art which make this book the perfect coffee table book.
A Tolkien Bestiary is certainly an indispensable work for any Tolkien devotee, and helps one get to grips with the elaborate world of the Undying Lands and Middle Earth. If you want to do some research into a topic related to Tolkien's world, the Bestiary provides a perfect source, without having to spend ages flipping through the pages of `The Hobbit', `The Lord of the Rings' and `The Silmarillion'.
Furthermore David Day, brings these works together, and presents the whole picture of Middle Earth.
One intriguing way in which this is done is through three beautifully illustrated sections in the book which trace the history of Tolkien's world, from the `Vision and Creation of Arda' to the `Departure of the Ringbearers'.
A Tolkien Bestiary is a highly comprehensive work, with maps, timelines and genealogies.
If one refers to the `Genealogy of the Races of Elves' for example, one can look at the entries for all the groups mentioned, starting with the lengthy article on Elves, as well as the smaller articles on the various other names used for Elves, such as `Fair Folk'.
One can then go on to look at the various families of Elfkind, and the entries under the different names for each.
Hence you can find articles on the Eldar also known West Elves, Avari also known as East Elves, Vanyar or Fair Elves, Noldor or Deep Elves, Sindar or Elves, Silvan or wood Elves etc.
Similarly this can be done with the other races of Middle Earth, the Dwarves, Men, Hobbits, Ents, Orcs, Trolls, Balrogs etc as well as the roles played by animals in Middle Earth.
What really makes the book a pleasurable experience to look at are the wonderful illustrations from the remarkably talented artists, in this work.
These drawings really bring Tolkien's work to life, and the colour illustrations are genuine works of art which make this book the perfect coffee table book.
October 10, 2017
Dejvid Dej me je ponovo oduševio, ovaj put sa "Tolkinovim rečnikom". Nakon "Tolkinovog prstena", čitanje ove knjige mi je predstavljalo veliko zadovoljstvo i neizmerno sam zahvalna obzirom na to da je knjiga, poput svake enciklopedije, izuzetno praktična i korisna.
April 9, 2024
WOW everything you might need to know about the beasts in Tolkien's world. Beautiful pics and great writing. Very recommended
November 9, 2007
Although you will find many detractors from David Day's work, it has come to my attention that this book is 100% accurate.
Many people who claim that David Day's compilation is "trash", are those who insist that he makes up entries to satisfy white space.
This could not be further from the truth. Being a Tolkien enthusiast, I have done a great deal of searching throughout Tolkien's books, letters, and notations made by Christopher Tolkien. In my search, I have found evidence of direct citations used by David Day.
If you enjoy Tolkien, and do not have time to search appendicies, Tolkien's letters, or Tolkien's notations (both J.R.R. and Christopher), then I suggest you purchase this book. This book is on the money, and there is a reason why Christopher Tolkien has not decried David Day's work - because David Day did his research.
Many people who claim that David Day's compilation is "trash", are those who insist that he makes up entries to satisfy white space.
This could not be further from the truth. Being a Tolkien enthusiast, I have done a great deal of searching throughout Tolkien's books, letters, and notations made by Christopher Tolkien. In my search, I have found evidence of direct citations used by David Day.
If you enjoy Tolkien, and do not have time to search appendicies, Tolkien's letters, or Tolkien's notations (both J.R.R. and Christopher), then I suggest you purchase this book. This book is on the money, and there is a reason why Christopher Tolkien has not decried David Day's work - because David Day did his research.
March 26, 2011
Thoroughly engaging and informative, this book is so, So, SO much more than a simple bestiary of Tolkien's worlds. It is almost a complete history from the Making of Arda ----> and beyond. Reading it one can see at a macro level all that has transpired of note.
It details races, animals, monsters, EVEN TREES! Major events are also prominently featured in beautifully rendered color artwork. It is truly a work that I believe Tolkien would have been proud to see affiliated with his universe. Excellent!
It details races, animals, monsters, EVEN TREES! Major events are also prominently featured in beautifully rendered color artwork. It is truly a work that I believe Tolkien would have been proud to see affiliated with his universe. Excellent!
October 19, 2014
Fu uno dei miei primi acquisti ai Remainders di Milano, nel lontano 89 o 90.
Un'enciclopedia tolkeniana, illustrata con uno stile particolare, molto lontano, per certi versi, da come mi immaginavo io la Terra di Mezzo all'epoca, quando praticamente solo il cartone animato era stato prodotto.
Ma il bello di esser vissuto e aver letto Tolkien prima dell'arrivo di Peter Jackson è anche questo: nona aver avuto la fantasia visiva condizionata dai film.
Un'enciclopedia tolkeniana, illustrata con uno stile particolare, molto lontano, per certi versi, da come mi immaginavo io la Terra di Mezzo all'epoca, quando praticamente solo il cartone animato era stato prodotto.
Ma il bello di esser vissuto e aver letto Tolkien prima dell'arrivo di Peter Jackson è anche questo: nona aver avuto la fantasia visiva condizionata dai film.
May 18, 2018
More like an illustrated encyclopedia inspired by the medieval bestiary tradition than a true bestiary.
There's much more broad Tolkienic lore here than a focused guide to beasts would contain, and the illustrations are nothing like an alchemic anatomy or even an Audubon fieldbook. More often they depict scenes, events, and moods instead.
A decent resource, despite the misleading title.
There's much more broad Tolkienic lore here than a focused guide to beasts would contain, and the illustrations are nothing like an alchemic anatomy or even an Audubon fieldbook. More often they depict scenes, events, and moods instead.
A decent resource, despite the misleading title.
March 10, 2019
It's not very useful as a reference material because the same subject will have multiple entries but no cross-references within entries. I'd recommend Foster's Guide to Middle-Earth if you want a book to actually look up stuff in.
That being said, this was really fun to read and had really excellent illustrations.
That being said, this was really fun to read and had really excellent illustrations.
March 5, 2021
The illustrations are ethereal in their beauty and quality. Delve into Middle Earth & the Undying Lands visually.
December 12, 2010
Although there are movies to give visuals, and tons of books about Tolkien's beloved fantasy world, the Tolkien Bestiary stands out to me. It is definitely worth reading. I really love the artwork in this book; no, it's not by Alan Lee or John Howe, but the art is beautiful in its own right and doesn't need to be compared to them. I like the way the creatures are drawn; a bit more "medieval" in style, which I think adds to the overall feel of a fantasy world. The illustration of the "Thousand Caves of Menegroth" I find as lovely as any painting of Lothlorien I ever saw. I bought it for that reason (the artwork) alone, but it's worth reading, too. A brief, but descriptive, history of events from the Silmarillion is included, as well as depictions (both in words and drawings) of the creatures in The Lord of the Rings and other Tolkien works. I've read nearly all of Tolkien's works repeatedly, and am very much a Tolkien enthusiast and "Lord of the Rings geek" and I think this book is wonderful!
November 13, 2024
This illustrated guide to the free people of Middle-Earth and all other creatures in Tolkien's books (The Silmarillion, The Hobbit and The LOTR) has to be the ultimate guide there is to Middle-Earth. David Day has given a beautifully written reference to all the ages and characters of Tolkien's great imagination. The book also includes maps, chronology of the ages and some superb colour illustrations. On nearly every page there is some kind of illustration that makes this book all the more enjoyable.
I would recommend this book to people who enjoyed reading the books or to someone who has seen the film and would like to know more about the enchanted world that is Middle-Earth.
I would recommend this book to people who enjoyed reading the books or to someone who has seen the film and would like to know more about the enchanted world that is Middle-Earth.
August 21, 2012
A sumptuous feast for the eyes to any lover of illustrations or fantasy art. Almost refined to a science, Day lists in logical order every beast, humanoid, age and other major Tolkien factoids.
But the illustrations, created by various artists from across the fantasy art spectrum, is what drew me in.
But the illustrations, created by various artists from across the fantasy art spectrum, is what drew me in.
April 29, 2014
Interested in a broader background for Lord of the Rings or The Hobbit? Tolkien wove other stories into his history of Middle-Earth. Day has done an excellent job of focusing on the creatures of that mythical world. His research is top-notch and the illustrations are also of high quality.
Nice to have near at hand when the urge manifests itself to delve into something Tolkien
Nice to have near at hand when the urge manifests itself to delve into something Tolkien
July 23, 2021
very pretty
October 23, 2022
Koristan priručnik, iako ima grešaka.
October 20, 2024
Een must read voor de Tolkien liefhebber! Een korte beschrijving van veel dingen die in Midde-Aarde voorkomen. Daarnaast staan er ook vele mooie tekeningen in
July 14, 2025
This took a while for me to plough through -- just over 7 years -- but it was fun and (quasi-)educational all the way. For a large part of the years around COVID, however (2019-2022), I wasn't able to access the location where it resided, and/or it wasn't convenient to read it. That large gap (and the eerie period that instigated it), somehow, has still stuck with my memories of the book.
For some reason, I really hate the layout/esthetics of the binding. It's really irrational, and personal, and my reaction to it doesn't make sense even to myself. The cover art is quite nice, actually; but it's totally set back by... what? The colours, the font, and/or the layout of the back and spine? The stark contrast of those elements internally, and/or their overall contrast to the bright cover? I'm not sure, but it put me off so much that I actually created a custom dust cover from a large newspaper photo clipping (of Éowyn outside Meduseld). Then, the cringing whenever I picked up the tome, finally stopped.
Some other minor drawbacks (just to name them; they weren't very detrimental): a screaming lack of cross-refs; some blatantly missing entries; a handful of typos; the tone/intricacy/poeticness of style fluctuates, but mostly is quite atmospheric (which is good for me); and the book could've used some/many maps. (Didn't the high fantasy genre put maps on the map?) (See what I did there?) I really missed 'my maps'. Some of which, I printed/copied (from other sources), and pasted in, myself; 'twas a challenge to find space, but it worked. And I could've been happier still with, e.g., one or three timelines/chronologies. Making sense of the ages ain't easy.
What I really liked was, to be able to read more about Tolkien's world, in exactly this way; through short, --or sometimes, (much) longer-- entries that run with the depth and scope of M.E., and being able to put it away quickly, while easily getting back into it months later.
It was hard work, though, shaping it into the definitive encyclopaedia that I wanted to make out of it, haha! I scribbled a lot of notes, page references, and reminders in the sidelines.
But don't be fooled ("you fools!"); this is a joy to have ("run!" to get it) when a low-budget, light/handy/quick reference-style volume is your thing (like it is mine), and/or if you like your questions answered w/ explanations that are thoroughly laden with an overly astute abundance of adverb-ridden ajectives! (You know you do.)
For some reason, I really hate the layout/esthetics of the binding. It's really irrational, and personal, and my reaction to it doesn't make sense even to myself. The cover art is quite nice, actually; but it's totally set back by... what? The colours, the font, and/or the layout of the back and spine? The stark contrast of those elements internally, and/or their overall contrast to the bright cover? I'm not sure, but it put me off so much that I actually created a custom dust cover from a large newspaper photo clipping (of Éowyn outside Meduseld). Then, the cringing whenever I picked up the tome, finally stopped.
Some other minor drawbacks (just to name them; they weren't very detrimental): a screaming lack of cross-refs; some blatantly missing entries; a handful of typos; the tone/intricacy/poeticness of style fluctuates, but mostly is quite atmospheric (which is good for me); and the book could've used some/many maps. (Didn't the high fantasy genre put maps on the map?) (See what I did there?) I really missed 'my maps'. Some of which, I printed/copied (from other sources), and pasted in, myself; 'twas a challenge to find space, but it worked. And I could've been happier still with, e.g., one or three timelines/chronologies. Making sense of the ages ain't easy.
What I really liked was, to be able to read more about Tolkien's world, in exactly this way; through short, --or sometimes, (much) longer-- entries that run with the depth and scope of M.E., and being able to put it away quickly, while easily getting back into it months later.
It was hard work, though, shaping it into the definitive encyclopaedia that I wanted to make out of it, haha! I scribbled a lot of notes, page references, and reminders in the sidelines.
But don't be fooled ("you fools!"); this is a joy to have ("run!" to get it) when a low-budget, light/handy/quick reference-style volume is your thing (like it is mine), and/or if you like your questions answered w/ explanations that are thoroughly laden with an overly astute abundance of adverb-ridden ajectives! (You know you do.)
April 6, 2018
This got three stars mostly because I love Tolkien in an irrepressible, nostalgic way. Frankly, this is not a high-quality encyclopedia. I thought the entries were organized and linked poorly. Day should have made better use of some sort of "See Also" tag to make navigation easier. In addition, the map was incomplete (I can't tell you how many times I scoured the map for a location listed in the text only to be disappointed), and the timelines were confusing. The writing style was your typical, overblown, inverted-sentence-structure, high-fantasy silliness. The illustrations were hit or miss. But I just love reading about elves and dwarves and ents, so I still enjoyed reading this.
February 9, 2017
That brief, shinning moment - when a neighbor gives permission for you to peruse their library, when you should be helping them dust and shift trash.
Always take it, never can tell what you may find on other's shelves that might interest you.
Much was the same with me, when this was pulled from a cramped shelf of Choral binders. To say I was surprised is an understatement; to say I was thrilled can be measure best by the richter scale.
I had never known of this book, I come from a long line of 'GEEKS' who from time to time have made mention of many books concerning Tolkien and his World. Never this one, and it makes me wonder why?
Of course, none had heard of it. That was also surprising, since the book is offered in many different prints and different priceranges. I felt like Indiana Jones, smug and proud of discovering something before others.(Sorry for mixing fandoms.)
Needless to say, I wasted my productive afternoon pouring through the pages. I was quite taken with the art and the knowlegde it held. I shall not play dumb that I haven't a fig of knowlegde on his world otherwise. Which is why my geeks-in-laws quizzed me, and much to their displeasure, I got their questions right.
Should I ever come across this again, there would be no hesitastion on my part, or my wallets, to snatch it up and add it to the collection.
Always take it, never can tell what you may find on other's shelves that might interest you.
Much was the same with me, when this was pulled from a cramped shelf of Choral binders. To say I was surprised is an understatement; to say I was thrilled can be measure best by the richter scale.
I had never known of this book, I come from a long line of 'GEEKS' who from time to time have made mention of many books concerning Tolkien and his World. Never this one, and it makes me wonder why?
Of course, none had heard of it. That was also surprising, since the book is offered in many different prints and different priceranges. I felt like Indiana Jones, smug and proud of discovering something before others.(Sorry for mixing fandoms.)
Needless to say, I wasted my productive afternoon pouring through the pages. I was quite taken with the art and the knowlegde it held. I shall not play dumb that I haven't a fig of knowlegde on his world otherwise. Which is why my geeks-in-laws quizzed me, and much to their displeasure, I got their questions right.
Should I ever come across this again, there would be no hesitastion on my part, or my wallets, to snatch it up and add it to the collection.
April 5, 2014
I bought this book many years ago, mostly out of idle interest. I played D&D for a year or two before I read The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings, so my knowledge of fantasy critters was already well rounded.
This book is a great reference guide to all the creatures Tolkien writes bout in his stories, and the different folklore that inspired him. Some of the artwork is a little abstract for my taste, but it doesn't detract from the book.
Even all these years later, I still enjoy flipping through the pages.
This book is a great reference guide to all the creatures Tolkien writes bout in his stories, and the different folklore that inspired him. Some of the artwork is a little abstract for my taste, but it doesn't detract from the book.
Even all these years later, I still enjoy flipping through the pages.
July 12, 2015
This is a joyfully detailed guide to the world of J.R.R. Tolkien from the people and races to the animals and plants that play integral roles in the Middle Earth stories that Tolkien unleashed upon the world, and not just LOTR either. Day has made sure that all of those beings and beasts that Tolkien conjured are represented and discussed and with a passion and eye for detail that is deserving of Tolkien himself (I'm not biased...honestly). Added to this Day has brought together an excellent team of illustrators that use both black and white and colour images to bring Tolkien's world to life even more than it is already.
January 14, 2009
As with David Day's other book, 'A Guide to Tolkein', Characters of Tolkein is a comprehensive resource, listing the characters you are likely to come across during any exploration of the Tolkein mythos, be it reading the books, watching the films, or even playing Tolkein-based games. Excellent for those of us who want a better understanding of the subject material, whichever media you may choose to explore it in.
March 22, 2015
On the one hand, this book is a lot of fun. On the other hand, Tolkien is the last author to read a bestiary about. Time and again you read a term and it's just another name for elf. Tolkien was better at thinking at names for elves than he was of thinking about different kinds of "beasts."
This is still a light criticism of the book because Tolkien was REALLY GOOD at thinking of names for elves.
This is still a light criticism of the book because Tolkien was REALLY GOOD at thinking of names for elves.
October 12, 2015
clearly the author knows his shit, but for a bestiary there's far too few illustrations. and more damning, no entry for the main villains of the series wtf? got time for a plant but not for melkor. shame shame
April 3, 2020
Este libro es uno de mis pequeños tesoros. Lo tengo desde los 12 años, mi época de obsesión absoluta con Tolkien, y es una joyita, no solo por la calidad enciclopédica del contenido, sino también por las preciosas ilustraciones y el formato tan cuidado.
January 2, 2018
Publicado en los años 80, es una guía de todos los monstruos y criaturas salidas de la cabeza de Tolkien junto con una extensa guía. Una joya para los amantes de la Tierra Media.
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