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J.R.R. Tolkien: Master of Imaginary Worlds
Examines the personal life and literary career of the author of the Lord of the Rings trilogy.
128 pages, Library Binding
First published July 1, 2004
16 people want to read
About the author
Edward Willett
171 books117 followersEdward Willett is an award-winning author of science fiction, fantasy and non-fiction for both children and adults.
Born in Silver City, New Mexico, Willett lived in Bayard, New Mexico and Lubbock and Tulia, Texas, before moving to Weyburn, Saskatchewan with his family when he was eight years old.
He studied journalism at Harding University in Searcy, Arkansas, then returned to Weyburn as a reporter/photographer for the weekly Weyburn Review, eventually becoming news editor. In 1988 he moved to Regina, Saskatchewan, as communications officer for the Saskatchewan Science Centre, and in 1993 he became a fulltime freelance writer. He still resides in Regina.
Willett is now the author or co-author of more than 60 books, ranging from computer books and other nonfiction titles for both children and adults, to science fiction and fantasy for all ages.
His science fiction novel Marseguro (DAW Books) won the 2009 Aurora Award for best English-language science fiction or fantasy book by a Canadian author. He has also won a Saskatchewan Book Award for his YA fantasy Spirit Singer. He has been shortlisted for the Aurora Award and Saskatchewan Book Awards multiple times.
His most recent novels include Worldshaper and Master of the World, the first two books in his new series Worldshapers, and The Cityborn, a stand-alone science fiction novel from DAW Books; the Masks of Aygrima trilogy, YA/adult crossover novels published by DAW and written as E.C. Blake; the five-book YA fantasy series The Shards of Excalibur, published by Coteau Books; and the stand-alone YA fantasy Flames of Nevyana (Rebelight Publishing). He's also the author of the Peregrine Rising duology for Bundoran Press (Right to Know and Falcon's Egg).
Other novels include SF novel Lost in Translation (DAW Books), Terra Insegura (sequel to Marseguro, DAW Books), Magebane (DAW Books, written as Lee Arthur Chane), YA SF novels Andy Nebula: Interstellar Rock Star, Andy Nebula: Double Trouble, and The Chosen; and YA ghost story The Haunted Horn.
Shadowpaw Press recently released his short story collection Paths to the Stars and re-released Spirit Singer, a YA fantasy that won a Saskatchewan Book Award and other awards.
His non-fiction titles run the gamut from science books for children on topics as diverse as Ebola Virus and the Milky Way to local history books like Historic Walks of Regina and Moose Jaw for Red Deer Press, awarded a Municipal Heritage Award by the City of Regina in the education category and A Safe and Prosperous Future: 100 years of engineering and geoscience achievements in Saskatchewan, published by the Association of Professional Engineers and Geoscientists of Saskatchewan (APEGS). He's also written biographies for children of Janis Joplin, Jimmy Hendrix, Johnny Cash, Andy Warhol, Orson Scott Card, J.R.R. Tolkien and the Ayatollah Khomeini.
You can find Ed online at www.edwardwillett.com, on Facebook, and on Twitter @ewillett.
His is represented by literary agent Ethan Ellenberg (www.ethanellenberg.com).
Besides being a writer, Willett is a professional actor and singer who has performed in dozens of plays, musicals and operas in and around Saskatchewan, hosted local television programs, and emceed numerous public events.
He's married to a telecommunications engineer and has one daughter.
Born in Silver City, New Mexico, Willett lived in Bayard, New Mexico and Lubbock and Tulia, Texas, before moving to Weyburn, Saskatchewan with his family when he was eight years old.
He studied journalism at Harding University in Searcy, Arkansas, then returned to Weyburn as a reporter/photographer for the weekly Weyburn Review, eventually becoming news editor. In 1988 he moved to Regina, Saskatchewan, as communications officer for the Saskatchewan Science Centre, and in 1993 he became a fulltime freelance writer. He still resides in Regina.
Willett is now the author or co-author of more than 60 books, ranging from computer books and other nonfiction titles for both children and adults, to science fiction and fantasy for all ages.
His science fiction novel Marseguro (DAW Books) won the 2009 Aurora Award for best English-language science fiction or fantasy book by a Canadian author. He has also won a Saskatchewan Book Award for his YA fantasy Spirit Singer. He has been shortlisted for the Aurora Award and Saskatchewan Book Awards multiple times.
His most recent novels include Worldshaper and Master of the World, the first two books in his new series Worldshapers, and The Cityborn, a stand-alone science fiction novel from DAW Books; the Masks of Aygrima trilogy, YA/adult crossover novels published by DAW and written as E.C. Blake; the five-book YA fantasy series The Shards of Excalibur, published by Coteau Books; and the stand-alone YA fantasy Flames of Nevyana (Rebelight Publishing). He's also the author of the Peregrine Rising duology for Bundoran Press (Right to Know and Falcon's Egg).
Other novels include SF novel Lost in Translation (DAW Books), Terra Insegura (sequel to Marseguro, DAW Books), Magebane (DAW Books, written as Lee Arthur Chane), YA SF novels Andy Nebula: Interstellar Rock Star, Andy Nebula: Double Trouble, and The Chosen; and YA ghost story The Haunted Horn.
Shadowpaw Press recently released his short story collection Paths to the Stars and re-released Spirit Singer, a YA fantasy that won a Saskatchewan Book Award and other awards.
His non-fiction titles run the gamut from science books for children on topics as diverse as Ebola Virus and the Milky Way to local history books like Historic Walks of Regina and Moose Jaw for Red Deer Press, awarded a Municipal Heritage Award by the City of Regina in the education category and A Safe and Prosperous Future: 100 years of engineering and geoscience achievements in Saskatchewan, published by the Association of Professional Engineers and Geoscientists of Saskatchewan (APEGS). He's also written biographies for children of Janis Joplin, Jimmy Hendrix, Johnny Cash, Andy Warhol, Orson Scott Card, J.R.R. Tolkien and the Ayatollah Khomeini.
You can find Ed online at www.edwardwillett.com, on Facebook, and on Twitter @ewillett.
His is represented by literary agent Ethan Ellenberg (www.ethanellenberg.com).
Besides being a writer, Willett is a professional actor and singer who has performed in dozens of plays, musicals and operas in and around Saskatchewan, hosted local television programs, and emceed numerous public events.
He's married to a telecommunications engineer and has one daughter.
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
March 16, 2022
Excellent summary of Tolkien’s life and legacy. I learned a lot of interesting facts about this man, his myth, and legendarium.
Quotes:
The turmoil in the 1960s, with civil rights riots, assassinations, and the War in Vietnam all making news, young people were seeking “new myths, believable gods, acceptable roots in the past that reassured one that acts of hope and heroism were possible” and The Lord of the Rings, which was, after all, part of Tolkien’s attempt to create a new mythology, fulfilled that need.
His genius has simply answered the call of people of any age or temperament most wearied by the ugliness, the speed, the shoddy values, the slick philosophies which have been given them as dreary substitutions for the beauty, the sense of mystery, excitement, adventure, heroism, and joy without which the very soul of man begins to wither and die within him.
-Michael Tolkien (his second son)
Art moves them and they don’t know what they’ve been moved by … many young Americans are involved in the stories in a way that I’m not.
-Tolkien
The relationship between science fiction (SF) and fantasy is difficult and topically important … obviously many readers of SF are attracted to it because it performs the same operation as fantasy — it provides … Escape … and wonder … Some writers and readers of SF are really primarily interested in the “science,” rather than the “wonder” or the “Escape.”
Quotes:
The turmoil in the 1960s, with civil rights riots, assassinations, and the War in Vietnam all making news, young people were seeking “new myths, believable gods, acceptable roots in the past that reassured one that acts of hope and heroism were possible” and The Lord of the Rings, which was, after all, part of Tolkien’s attempt to create a new mythology, fulfilled that need.
His genius has simply answered the call of people of any age or temperament most wearied by the ugliness, the speed, the shoddy values, the slick philosophies which have been given them as dreary substitutions for the beauty, the sense of mystery, excitement, adventure, heroism, and joy without which the very soul of man begins to wither and die within him.
-Michael Tolkien (his second son)
Art moves them and they don’t know what they’ve been moved by … many young Americans are involved in the stories in a way that I’m not.
-Tolkien
The relationship between science fiction (SF) and fantasy is difficult and topically important … obviously many readers of SF are attracted to it because it performs the same operation as fantasy — it provides … Escape … and wonder … Some writers and readers of SF are really primarily interested in the “science,” rather than the “wonder” or the “Escape.”
November 10, 2014
I felt that this book was a good book as far as biographies go. The main thing that kept me reading is my deep love for J.R.R. Tolkien. He was such a great author, and an amazing linguist. Few people can make up their own languages, let alone create rules for the langues as well. He was a true genius.
I would recommend this to any young adult or adult who is interested in learning more about Tolkien.
Warnings: none
I would recommend this to any young adult or adult who is interested in learning more about Tolkien.
Warnings: none
January 30, 2013
An excellent start to knowing the author, his personal struggle, and his body of work. Made me have greater patience and compassion around the art of fantasy storytelling.
September 5, 2013
This biography sowed the life and story of the mind of the Hobbit and The Lord of The Rings
February 4, 2015
Easy biography for fans of Middle Earth to acquire some background on Tolkien.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews