As far as influential books go, the Lord of the Rings ranks almost as highly as the Holy Bible. In literary terms, perhaps, only Shakespeare's works have more thoroughly defined an entire genre.
Such is the influence of the Lord of the Rings books among readers and literary enthusiasts, with the original works not enough to sate the thirst for more epic events set in Middle-Earth.
Here are some quick, juicy facts about this eternal work of literature to help you decide if it's worth your while:
Watching the movie adaptations of the Lord of The Rings is one thing. Reading the books is quite another. Although many readers have complained about the complex writing in the trilogy, there are several reasons why the Lord of the Rings books are held in such regard:
While the size and scope of the work are the stuff of near-legend, much of what makes up this masterpiece is its several hundred pages worth of lore.
J.R.R. Tolkien created an incredibly detailed and immersive world with its own languages, cultures, history, and geography. As you read, Middle-earth feels alive, making it a deep and engaging setting for the story.
The Lord of the Rings series takes you on a fantastical journey. From the rolling, lush-green hills of The Shire and towering battlements of Helm's Deep to the foul air and orc-infested lands of Mordor, you're transported from the pages in a starship with horses for engines and a wizard's staff as a compass.
While several fantasy authors have since written tons of books with similar good vs. evil tropes, it's worth noting that Lord of the Rings books cemented the stereotype's place as the default main theme in Epic Fantasy.
However, other sub-genres have slowly taken over, over time. Many readers are tired of seeing light triumph over dark and now favour slightly morally dubious protagonists, as well as antagonists.
Still, when you conjure an image of opposing forces facing off in the field of battle, with one side populated by an army of right-standing, brave defendants and another of all the hordes of the abyss, the Lord of the Rings comes most easily to mind.
Even the smallest person can change the course of the future.
― J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings
Dwarves. Stout, fearsome, gruff-humored and eternally stubborn. Elves. Lithe and graceful. Long-lived, expert archers. Trolls (or any of its several hundred spellings). The evil spawn of darkness. Man-eaters. Dragons. Destructive, proud, loyal and terrifying...
The list goes on.
Tolkien's work birthed many of the fantasy creatures and their use in respective stereotypes, with contemporary fantasy authors carrying the practice into the plotting of their stories.
Whether it's Dany Targaryen atop Viserion, Trollocs in the Wheel of Time, or the many elf-like creatures scattered across books in sword-and-sorcery, young adult fantasy and high fantasy, the Lord of the Rings books remain the ultimate source and standard-bearer of this unique imagery.
These days, nearly all the big books have been adapted into movies. The Lord of the Rings is no exception.
The Fellowship of the Ring, The Two Towers and The Return of the King jointly cover proceedings in the main trilogy in just over 6 hours of screentime. On the other hand, the Rings of Power (currently ongoing Prime Video series) gives users a unique take on an Age before the events in the main story.
Then, the Hobbit itself is developed into three exciting and tense movies set in Middle-earth, featuring stone trolls, a skin-changer, spawns of the primordial Ungoliant, and fourteen hardy dwarves.
Reading the Lord of the Rings books lets you compare the books to the movies and enjoy dissecting plot holes, themes, lore, screen material, casting, special effects and other aspects of the adaptations.
The correct reading order for The Lord of the Rings series, including relevant works by J.R.R. Tolkien, is typically as follows:
"In a hole in the ground there lived a hobbit." So begins one of the most beloved and delightful tales in the English language—Tolkien's prelude to The Lord of the Rings. Set in the imaginary world of Middle-earth, at once a classic myth and a modern fairy tale, The Hobbit is one of literature's most enduring and well-loved novels.
The dark, fearsome Ringwraiths are searching for a Hobbit. Frodo Baggins knows that they are seeking him and the Ring he bears—the Ring of Power that will enable evil Sauron to destroy all that is good in Middle-earth. Now it is up to Frodo and his faithful servant, Sam, with a small band of companions, to carry the Ring to the one place it can be destroyed: Mount Doom, in the very center of Sauron’s realm.
The Fellowship is scattered. Some brace hopelessly for war against the ancient evil of Sauron. Others must contend with the treachery of the wizard Saruman. Only Frodo and Sam are left to take the One Ring, ruler of the accursed Rings of Power, to be destroyed in Mordor, the dark realm where Sauron is supreme. Their guide is Gollum, deceitful and obsessive slave to the corruption of the Ring.
As the shadow of Mordor grows across the land, the Companions of the Ring have become involved in separate adventures. Aragorn, revealed as the hidden heir of the ancient Kings of the West, has joined with the Riders of Rohan against the forces of Isengard and takes part in the desperate battle of the Hornburg. Merry and Pippin, captured by Orcs, escape into Fangorn Forest and there encounter the Ents.
The Silmarillion is the core of J.R.R. Tolkien's imaginative writing, a work whose origins stretch back to a time long before The Hobbit. This mythopoetic masterpiece is a must-read for fans of The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power on Prime Video.
Unfinished Tales of Númenor and Middle-earth concentrates on the lands of Middle-earth and comprises Gandalf's lively account of how he came to send the Dwarves to the celebrated party at Bag-End, the story of the emergence of the sea god Ulmo before the eyes of Tuor on the coast of Beleriand, and an exact description of the military organization of the Riders of Rohan and the journey of the Black Riders during the hunt for the Ring.
Long before the One Ring was forged in the fires of Mount Doom, one man—Húrin—dared to defy Morgoth, the first and greatest of the dark lords to plague Middle-earth. Thus did he and his children, Túrin and Niënor, earn the enmity of a merciless foe that would shape the destiny of all the ages to come.
Essential to the story, and never changed, is the fate that shadowed the love of Beren and Lúthien: for Beren was a mortal man, but Lúthien was an immortal Elf. Her father, a great Elvish lord, in deep opposition to Beren, imposed on him an impossible task that he must perform before he might wed Lúthien.
In the Tale of The Fall of Gondolin are two of the greatest powers in the world. There is Morgoth of the uttermost evil, unseen in this story but ruling over a vast military power from his fortress of Angband. Deeply opposed to Morgoth is Ulmo, second in might only to Manwë, chief of the Valar.
This reading order lets you enjoy the core of the story, the original Lord of the Rings trilogy, first before you get into the spinoffs. Alternatively, you can read the spinoffs before reading the trilogy.
Each of the spinoff books (The Hobbit, The Silmarillion, Unfinished Tales of Númenor and Middle-earth, The Children of Húrin, Beren and Lúthien and The Fall of Gondolin) contributes to the rich lore and history of Middle-earth, spanning thousands of years from the world's creation to the events of the main trilogy.
If you plan to dive straight into the main story, ensure that you read The Hobbit first. It prepares you for many of the events that pan out in the trilogy and can be read as a standalone.
If you don't like lengthy epics heavy on character development and prolonged buildups, you may find the Lord of the Rings books unexpectedly tedious. There's also the writing style to consider, whose language some readers may find weird or complex.
Still, as it's basically at the top of the epic fantasy canon, you definitely should pick up the Lord of the Rings books at least once in your lifetime.
It's a strange journey that takes you through vast landscapes and memorable characters, teaching valuable lessons in duty, friendship and sacrifice.
