These books are great fantasy books that keep you engaged. This particular box set is nice because it has the pictures from the movies on the covers.However, the novels themselves draw the reader more into the story with even more details than the movies. Though not an allegory like the CS Lewis Narnia series, you can still easily read parallels of the Christian faith in the story.
Verified purchase: Yes | Condition: Pre-owned
Have loved hobbits since.....at least 1978....and dwarves.....and elves (Arwen why didn’t you wait for me?).....and dragons....and Rings of Power....and the wondrous story of good versus evil.....and how a kindly race of peaceful creatures could prevail over the Forces of Darkness.....and the moral of the consequences of wielding power....and how it is hard to watch your friends sail to the Grey Havens. Still captivating after all these years. “One Ring to Rule Them All.......”
Verified purchase: Yes | Condition: New
The influence of JRR Tolkien to the works of English Literature is only be rivaled by William Shakespeare. Note that Tolkien, unlike Bill, has no cloud of controversy as to whether he wrote all his works or not. The concept of creating a real language for other races (popularly used in Star Trek) was started when he wrote the language of the elves. He created the Ents, commonly called Treefolk in Dungeons and Dragons and Magic: The Gathering. Finally, although brutal beasts have existed for centuries in fantasy and legend, he was the first to call the most powerful ones Orcs. But The Lord of the Rings (LOR) would not have had the influence it does if all he did was invent monsters or fantastic words. LOR is a true work of literature. There are many different layers to the story and something in their depth is bound to appeal to anybody. LOR is first of all a Fantasy Adventure story, filled with mighty heroes, strange monsters, fantastic cultures and powerful magic. It is a series filled with a rich history of unpublished works he had been working on. It is an allegorical history of the fall of the feudal society, the rise of industry and the struggle for human rights. It is a reflection of both world wars. Finally, it is a story of Christianity in general and Catholicism in particular. The series was not originally what Tolkien wanted to write. He had been working on the histories and stories of Middle Earth for decades and wanted to use them as the background for what would be the final, and greatest, story of that mythos. The Hobbit, however, was too popular and he was forced to write "another halfling story". In the end, he compromised and adjusted his own ideas to accept the hobbits as major characters. It is for this reason that The Hobbit, even after being substantially re-written, does not fit as smoothly with LOR as one would expect for a "prequel". His original world can be found in "The Simerillian" and other works published after his death by his son Christopher. The Industrial Revolution destroyed a 1000 year culture. The nobility fell from power (Elves leaving Middle Earth), the influence of the guilds was minimized (Dwarves hiding in their caves) and the Church came under siege (Galadriel refusing to leave Lothlorien). At this time, the industrialists (Sauroman) and dictators (Saron) enslaved the people (Orcs) and threatened to destroy human rights (the Free Peoples Gondor and Rohan). When Aragorn is crowned King, Tolkien was prophesizing the ultimate victory over oppression that happened in the 1980s with the fall of communism. Marx, Steinbeck, HG Wells and other great authors all wrote about certain aspects of this time, but only Tolkien covered the entire 150+ year period. The series was written during WW II, so it is easy to understand why the fears of the Free Peoples come so alive. Tolkien and the people he worked and lived with were experiencing the very same threat themselves. The Christian references in the story are too numerous to list in the limited space of this forum, but it is easy to point out how Jesus (Gandalf), papal authority (Galadriel), Judas (Boramir) and sin (the ring) are portrayed in the series. The LOR is more than just another fantasy adventure story. It presents nearly 200 years of human struggle for rights in a changing world and emphasizes the importance of spirituality in order to win. John Holland-author of The Necklace of TerrersylvanousRead full review
Great set of books! My daughter asked for this collection, as she couldn't find it anywhere! And as they say "You can find anything on EBAY"! As it turned out, it is a very true statement! Bought this as a Birthday gift, and my daughter was thrilled! Boxed set was just as stated on the auction site! The books are great, as it gives you the trilogy all in one, especially since they are paperbacks, this makes it very easy to take anywhere! And of course the Hobbit is a must book for any JRR Tolkien feind!!! It is a classic, as are the Lord of the Rings becoming! Excellent purchase...great set and highly recommended reading!
This is it! The best fantasy collection ever written, period! It follows the events of Bilbo Baggins and his nephew Frodo on their many adventures through the mystical lands of middle Earth. Detailing how, in the most greuling of circumstances, even the smallest of creatures can make the biggest impact. There is just simply not enough I can say about this great quadrillogy! From beginning to amazing end, it is the most fun I have had in my life while turning pages! Buy this box set! It will change your life, or at least, it changed mine. No Joke. Thanks for reading. signed:CLW
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