The Complete Guide

Rating: Rings

January 05, 2003

By Robert Foster

List Price: $12.95

Paper Back

Del Rey Books

---Description (from back of the book): "Tolkien’s World from A to Z. A detailed glossary of people, places, and things. Arranged for convenient reference. Completely revised and expanded."

---Quote: "Abyss The low places of the Timeless Halls of Ildúatar. Zirak-Zigil One of three Mountains of Moria. In its pinnacle was built Durin’s Tower, and here Gandalf threw down the Balrog. Called in Sindarin Celebdil and in Westron Silvertine. Also called Zirak for short by the Dwarves."

Review by emplynx:

J.R.R. Tolkien single handedly created probably the most complex fiction world ever know. When I first read the Hobbit and the Lord of the Rings, I was confused by all the different places, names, and mountains. If it was not for the Complete Guide to Middle-Earth, I probably would have still not finished the Lord of the Rings. Robert Foster created this "encyclopedia" of the Middle Earth with such great detail and information, that it is hard to believe that Tolkien himself did not write it.

Foster did not right this book as an opinion essay or book at all, he used facts straight from Tolkien’s canon material or well-proved theories by leading Tolkien scholors. The Complete Guide contains countless entries on every place, character, and thing even briefly mentioned in every part of Tolkien’s work. Every single hobbit ever mentioned in the Lord of the Rings or the Hobbit is included in Foster’s book. To look at all the information compiled in 592 pages is breathtaking.

The Complete Guide to Middle-Earth also includes some very interesting and quality appendices. Appendix A is a Chronology of the First Age. The second, Appendix B is Genealogical Tables including the Line of Isildur and the house of Húrin (The House of the Stewards).
The copy of the Complete Guide that I currently own 1979 paperback edition which I have only had for a year. The only problem I have had with is a few loose pages. Del Rey has recently re-released the book and I would imagine that the problem is fixed. Other than that it is a sturdy book.

Closing Thoughts: I would definitely recommend this book, the Complete Guide to Middle-Earth, to any Tolkien fan or reader, young or old. It has more quality information about the Middle-Earth than an other book I have seen. If you don’t own it buy it, you will not regret it!

Note: This review is of the 1979 paperback edition of The Complete Guide to Middle-Earth from the Hobbit to the Silmarillion, the 2001 paperback edition, know as The Complete Guide to Middle-Earth From the Hobbit through the Lord of the Rings and Beyond, may have some changes from the reviewed version.

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