Books like The Book of Lost Tales [2/2] by J.R.R. Tolkien

Bilbo Baggins, a humble hobbit, embarks on an unexpected adventure with a dwarf company to recover dragon‑guarded treasure, facing trolls, goblins, elves, a giant spider, and the fearsome dragon Smaug.

An epic account of Middle‑earth’s ancient past, detailing its creation, the famed Silmarils, and the rise of Morgoth and Sauron.

The Lord of the Rings follows a fellowship of diverse companions across Middle‑earth as they seek to destroy a powerful ring that threatens all life.

A collection of previously unpublished stories and essays by J.R.R. Tolkien, edited by Christopher Tolkien, that expand the history and mythology of Númenor and Middle‑earth from the First Age to the end of the War of the Ring.

A collection of unpublished alliterative poems by J.R.R. Tolkien depicting key legends of the Elder Days in Middle-earth, accompanied by scholarly commentary.

J.R.R. Tolkien adapts the ancient Northern legend of Sigurd, the dragon‑slayer, exploring his triumph over Fafnir, his betrothal to Brynhild, and the tragic betrayals that lead to his death and the sorrow of Gudrún.

A post‑publication exploration of J.R.R. Tolkien’s creative process, featuring Christopher Tolkien’s detailed account of The Lord of the Rings, first‑seen The Notion Club Papers, and a new look at the Numenorean legend and invented languages.

The Treason of Isengard, the second volume of The History of The Lord of the Rings, chronicles the development of Middle‑earth’s southern realms—Lothlorien, the Ents, Rohan, and Saruman’s stronghold—while detailing early drafts, maps and runic alphabets.

The Return of the Shadow is the first volume of Christopher Tolkien's The History of the Lord of the Rings, detailing the early development of The Fellowship of the Ring from initial drafts to the narrative’s end in the first volume.

"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: he is called the Lord of Waters, of all seas, lakes, and rivers under the sky. But he works in secret in Middle-earth to support the Noldor, the kindred of the Elves among whom were numbered Húrin and Túrin Turambar. Central to this enmity of the gods is the city of Gondolin, beautiful but undiscoverable. It was built and peopled by Noldorin Elves who, when they dwelt in Valinor, the land of the gods, rebelled against their rule and fled to Middle-earth. Turgon King of Gondolin is hated and feared above all his enemies by Morgoth, who seeks in vain to discover the marvellously hidden city, while the gods in Valinor in heated debate largely refuse to intervene in support of Ulmo's desires and designs. Into this world comes Tuor, cousin of Túrin, the instrument of Ulmo's designs. Guided unseen by him Tuor sets out from the land of his birth on the fearful journey to Gondolin, and in one of the most arresting moments in the history of Middle-earth the sea-god himself appears to him, rising out of the ocean in the midst of a storm. In Gondolin he becomes great; he is wedded to Idril, Turgon's daughter, and their son is Eärendel, whose birth and profound importance in days to come is foreseen by Ulmo. At last comes the terrible ending. Morgoth learns through an act of supreme treachery all that he needs to mount a devastating attack on the city, with Balrogs and dragons and numberless Orcs. After a minutely observed account of the fall of Gondolin, the tale ends with the escape of Túrin and Idril, with the child Eärendel, looking back from a cleft in the mountains as they flee southward, at the blazing wreckage of their city. They were journeying into a new story, the Tale of Eärendel, which Tolkien never wrote, but which is sketched out in this book from other sources. Following his presentation of Beren and Lúthien Christopher Tolkien has used the same 'history in sequence' mode in the writing of this edition of The Fall of Gondolin. In the words of J.R.R. Tolkien, it was 'the first real story of this imaginary world' and, together with Beren and Lúthien and The Children of Húrin, he regarded it as one of the three 'Great Tales' of the Elder Days." - Amazon.com

A curated collection of J.R.R. Tolkien’s unfinished and early Middle‑earth writings, offering rare insights into his evolving mythology.

In this truly indispensable reference, trace the development of the early lore of Middle-earth. Poems and prose, maps and chronologies, detours and diversions along the road to Middle-earth -- Christopher Tolkien has gathered archival materials that his late father, J.R.R. Tolkien, used to create the world and the history behind his classic stories. The Shaping of Middle-earth presents early versions of those first tales, from the creation myth to the fall of Morgoth. Writings include a chronology of the events in Beleriand, the first Silmarillion map, and the only known description of the physical nature of Middle-earth's universe. Detailed annotations highlight changes ranging from the spelling of Elvish names to pivotal emendations whose effects reach even to the War of the Ring. This extraordinary book will be fascinating reading for those just entering this world -- and a delight for fans of this endlessly beloved land. - Back cover.

An anthology of J.R.R. Tolkien’s fantasy poetry, short stories, a play, and essays compiled from earlier collections.

The War of the Ring, the third volume of Tolkien’s History of the Lord of the Rings, details the climactic battles and political maneuvers that shape the final stages of Middle‑earth’s epic conflict.