Unfinished Tales

[Aragorn Isildur]

Which, if any, bits of UT did you like the best?

Aragorn:king:

[Fatty]

I like the Hunt for the Ring, fascinating stuff. The Disaster of the Gladden Fields is also excellent. A rare glimpse at how the Numenoreans fought.

[Illuvatar]

I'm just about half way through the UT at the moment!! First time too!! :)

So far, I've really enjoyed the chapter I just finished - NARN I HIN HURIN - The Tale of the Children of Hurin.

Talk about your epic stories!! I'm really glad that they did this one!! I was intrigued with the story of Turin when I read the SIL, but this went into so much more detail!!

The whole loose the sister that you love, fall in love (and NOT know it's your sister!) kill a dragon and then DIE bit is almost laughable, but as always Tolkien sucks you in and you can't get enough!!

One of the reasons I love his writing so much is the intertwining of love, despair, loss, tragedy, and victory!! Flipping brilliant!! IMHO :p

[Aragorn Isildur]

I loved that too Ill. I was intrigued by the palantir info as well.

[Mirkgirl]

I liked Tuor, but as it's really unfinished :angry:
I loved to understand more for Galadriel :stomper:
I loved almost the whole third part :loveyou:

[Bawax]

i'm with Illuvatar. i like, so far as i just got past the line of elros bit, NARN I HIN HURIN - The Tale of the Children of Hurin.

i think it was some of tolkiens best work that i've read so far. :)

[Daughter of Finarfin]

I liked the History of Galadriel and Celeborn, and also the Istari and the Palantari.

[Mirkgirl]

This is probably my favourite book, it answers the main questions that the rest (TLotT, TH, TS) rise...

anyway I'm just reviving the thread anyway (-;

[Lalaith]

I'd have to go with the Coming of Tuor to Gondolin (shame it's unfinshed but that's kinda a given with this book!)
Also love the bit on the Istari, and the history of Celeborn and Galadriel...

[dwarflord]

just finished the silmailion, and eager for more.....however i was disapointed how little there was about dwarves, and was wondering if any of the other titles had more about dwarven history ?

I am curious as to whether dwarves are asexual, as i dont recall any refrences to MRS dwarf ....

any ideas are most welcome

tnx

[Mirkgirl]

Appendix A, Durins's folk
Dís was the daughter of Thráin II. She is the only dwarf-woman named in these histories. It was said by Gimli that there are few dwarf-women, probably no more than a third of the whole people. They seldom walk abroad except at great need, They are in voice and appearance, and in garb if they must go on a journey, so like to the dwarf-men that the eyes and ears of other peoples cannot tell them apart. This has given rise to the foolish opinion among Men that there are no dwarf-women, and that the Dwarves - grow out of stone.
It is because of the fewness of women among them that the kind of the Dwarves increases slowly, and is in peril when they have no secure dwellings. For Dwarves take only one wife or husband each in their lives, and are jealous, as in all matters of their rights. The number of dwarf-men that marry is actually less than one-third. For not all the women take husbands: some desire none; some desire one that they cannot get, and so will have no other. As for the men, very many also do not desire marriage, being engrossed in their crafts. That's what we know

[Elf angel]

I really want to read this. I started reading LOTR because the movie. Then i bought the Sil. I coudn't find the UT at my local bookstore.

[Bawax]

i really liked all the stuff from the third age, i thought it gave a great insight into things like the Istari and the quest of erebor. :)

[Narsil's weilder]

The departure of Isildur was good.

[Mark Tierney]

I haven't read UT, and I was wondering if it had anything on the rise of Gondor, ie the final Gondorian Sea-King Hyarmendacil. Any help please?

[Mirkgirl]

I'm pretty sure the answer is no, sorry, Mark...

[Narsil's weilder]

But there is alot about the events leading up to the war of the ring, like the journey of the ringwraiths.

[Yar]

I like this book with Silmarillion most of all (first; I hunt it very to long to get and that's make it more special :dragon:) My faivorite parts: IV surely! The Palantiri part is very intresting and I found a lot of new but my faivorite story in that book Narn i hin Hurin and Of Tour and his coming to Gondolin (it was really the unfinished tale)

[Diamond Took]

I just started reading it and love it so much! It clears up so many things and shows me things i never even thought about. i agree with Yar, i liked Narn i hin Hurin and The Coming of Tuor to Gondolin (so far). i havent gotten to the part about the Palantiri yet. im still on...oi, cant remember it except that its The Mariner's Wife. that one's good too. u know what? i like the whole thing!!!

[Voroturiön]

I agree with Lalaith on the best parts of UT.
In particular I liked:
The description of the Gates of Gondolin
The Sindarin Princes of the Silvan Elves
The Istari

[Narsil's weilder]

The good part i think was in the Palantiri section where they talk about Aragorn's findings inside Orthac.

[Lasgalen]

My favorite is Narn i Hin Hurin.
Also, I really like the info I get from History of Galadriel and Celeborn, but do not like the way it reads. Too much like a text book.

-Lasgalen

[Undomiel]

Originally posted by Lalaith
I'd have to go with the Coming of Tuor to Gondolin (shame it's unfinshed but that's kinda a given with this book!)
Also love the bit on the Istari, and the history of Celeborn and Galadriel...

I totally agree, although i'd also add Narn i hín Hurin

I think Tuor is great, an often unsung hero. I was so disappointed with the end:( I know it's UT but i'm sure that one is more unfinished than mostlol I really wanted it to tell of his time in Gondolin and of his love for Idril Celebrindal and their son Earendil and the destruction of Gondolin. I reckon it would have been a fantastic read. I think Idril is often overlooked. If it wasnt for her, i doubt that any of the elves of Gondolin would have escaped.

[Lalaith]

Originally posted by Undomiel
I think Tuor is great, an often unsung hero. I was so disappointed with the end:( I know it's UT but i'm sure that one is more unfinished than mostlol I really wanted it to tell of his time in Gondolin and of his love for Idril Celebrindal and their son Earendil and the destruction of Gondolin. I reckon it would have been a fantastic read. I think Idril is often overlooked. If it wasnt for her, i doubt that any of the elves of Gondolin would have escaped.

You should check out the second Book of Lost Tales (at least, I think it's the second one... :huh: ) cos it has absolutely loads about the fall of Gondolin... Cracking stuff!

[Undomiel]

Thanks Lalaith, i will do just that :thumbs:

[Lhuntidomion]

Felt Bad for ol' Túrin! He's blind or so he claims in UT

[Númenórean]

Túrin is a very unlucky character, being cursed by Morgoth and all. It's only becouse of his honor that I think Maedhros is more unlucky then him: if Túrin would just have visited the King after he murdered that elf everything would have been fine.

As for my favorite story in the unfinished tales: I really liked the batlles on the fords of the Isen. Those stories with tactics explained and all, just rock! And so does Théodred.

[Arvedui]

The Battle of the Fords of Isen answers some bits of questions I had when I fiirst read Lord of the Rings in how Theodred, Theoden of Rohan's son was killed, and also of the faulty defensive stratagy the Rohirrim had against Sarumann. It all fits with Lord of the Rings well in the fact the field command was somewhat unsure of itself after Theodred fell, and tha fact that Grima had a grip in Theoden and had Eomer jailed and passed no solid orders. But I digress into my own merger of the story into Lord of the Rings. I find it one of the storied I read again and again, whenever I re-read Lord of the Rings.

Disaster at the Gladden Fields was good and so was Narn i Hin Hurin. I did enjoy the look into Numenor with the story of Erendis and Aldarion.

[Undomiel]

o yes Erendis and Aldarion. It was hard to no who to feel sorry for in that one really. My feeling shifted throughout that tale.

[Lasgalen]

I felt sorrier for Aldarion because he was so torn between Erendis and the sea.

[Ludibunda]

I like how it came right to me int he mail (Thank you Amazon) and the cover is a little boring. But after reading all your posts I am exciting about starting this new delight. Anticipation....

[Undomiel]

ooo you should be it is extremely good:grin: :thumbs:

[Luthien Tinuviel]

Tinuviel wasn't in UT was she? I could go get my book and look, but I'm too lazy, if it was, then that was my favorite part. But I don't suspect it was included, as it is very much finished. I also loved the Narn, and Tuor's story. I'm currently reading the Lost Tales 2, and it has a more finished (though very much a predecessor of the Narn) tale of Turin. I just finished that, and am on the Fall of Gondolin, which I can't wait to read, because I loved it in UT, as unfinished as it was. It's a good thing all the Lost Tales stories are finished. It's great. I suggest you read it, even if you read no more of the History of Middle-earth series (which I intend to finish this summer).

[Lasgalen]

:hyper: :hyper: can't wait for the group discussion to start :hyper: :hyper: ( I am not rushing you Lalaith. I just wanted to use the new hyper smilie)

[BeardofPants]

The story of Turin. Of all the available source material that I've read so far (Silm, UT, HoME 1-7) UT has the best version of the Turin story yet.

[Luthien Tinuviel]

There's a hyper smilie? When did this happen? Hey, there are 2 other new ones! Gee, going on vacation certainly cuts you out of the loop, doesn't it. :hyper: :hmppf: :boromir: Okay, I just had to use all 3. Boromir is one of them!! It's about time he got some more recognition! leb.

[Luthien Tinuviel]

I finished the Fall of Gondolin yesterday in the Lost Tales, and I was thinking, I don't actually know how to pronounce Tuor. I think it's someting like too-or, but that's just my guess. Anyone know? Thanks.

[Lasgalen]

Thats how I've been pronouncing it. Sounds good to me.

[Undomiel]

Well it says in my copy of the Silm. that Ú such as Túrin and Húrin should be pronounced "toorin" and not "Tyoorin" but it doesnt say about u without the accent so i'm not sure. I always said too-or but now i dont know lol

[Luthien Tinuviel]

Thanks a bunch! I was just wondering, it makes sense that way, but I wasn't sure. I knew Turin and Hurin, that's kind of why I wondered about Tuor.

[Undomiel]

Tis ok, i wish my copy had had the other u in but never mind. I dont think it really sounds right as "tyoo-or" though so i think it must be right really.:thumbs::grin:

[Luthien Tinuviel]

Good to know, I tried a few other pronunciations today...well, let's just say that too-or sounds best. lol Well, if we all agree then none of us looks stupid, and there's a better chance that we're actually right...ok, that made no sense, forgive me, it's unbearably hot right now and mom says "It's not warm enough for a/c"

[Arveleg]

I like The Disaster of the Gladden Fields and Battle of the Fords of Isen.

In the Fords.... it was seen how the flawed tactics of the Rohirrim led to their eventual defeat in the second battle. The loss of their strong commander, Théodred, it seemed that Grimbold and Elfhelm had differing ideas as to the defense, and neither forsaw the flanking army coming upon them from south of the River Isen.

[Laeriel]

I LOVE the whole story of Turin. I know it was extremely depressing, and it had me crying all the way through it, but he is just sooo cool!!

[Arveleg]

Laeriel, the story of Turin is one of the best of the First Age. I think it was my favorite story of the Silmarillion.

[Ithildiel Noldoran]

Same here..though I liked the story of Feanor and how he made the silmarils, as well...the 3 stones of unparalleled beauty that caused Arda and Valinor such grief...

[LothlorienKiki]

Just finished it! And I enjoyed like I enjoyed the Sil...I can't really say my favorite parts, but I did enjoy the bits on the Istari, the Children of Hurin (so sad, that whole tale in full of so much sadness), the Palantiri, the bits with Numenor in it...well, I liked a whole lot.

Next, on to the Book of Lost Tales 1! Then...THE WORLD! Muahahh! Oh..uh. Wrong brain wave..

[Ithildiel Noldoran]

Well, you should keep in mind that the Books of Lost Tales are bound to confuse you-they often contradict both the Sil and Unfinished Tales...mecry!

And I loved Unfinished Tales too...sometimes, it just so perfectly completed the questions Ihad from Sil.veryhappy

[LothlorienKiki]

Yes, I've heard the Lost Tales are very confusing....but, if I can read the Canterbury Tales (very. Very. VERY. hard) I can do this! And I should just try and push out all that I've known about ME for the Lost Tales, shouldn't I? lol

[Ithildiel Noldoran]

Canterbury Tales?:elfeek: I've read those too!!To be honest...Lost Tales sort of reminded me a little of it when I started reading them! lol I think they are pretty much the same...in temrs of confusion, I mean! :blush:

But I think you'll like them! ;)

[Thrainsring]

quest for erebor

hunt for the ring

[Manveri Silverleaf]

Has anyone been able to make heads or tails of the history of Galadriel and Celeborn? I've read it twice, and both times came out more confused than I already had. I'm just wondering if anyone's been able to make some sense of it.

[Fëalossë]

Well, there have been - I think - three different versions of the story (all written by Tolkien, of course), so even if you do make sense of the one in this book it's not likely to get any clearer. lol

[Mithril]

I just read that story about Celeborn and Galadriel for the first time the other day, I found it fairly confusing too! :-/ I'm pleased it's not just me! lol
I haven't finished reading Unfinished Tales yet, but I am enjoying it, I can make sense of most of it! (I think) :read:

[Manveri Silverleaf]

I made sense of the chapter about the Istari, it was just very lengthy.

[Gwaihir]

I made sense of the chapter about the Istari, it was just very lengthy.
I like that Istari chapter alot! I wish Tolkien had written more about the Blue Wizards, Alatar and Pallando.. we don't have much information to go on. I wish we could know their fate for sure. But that's like Tolkien.. leaving things like that for us to guess!

[Manveri Silverleaf]

Well I honestly believed that Tolkien intended to tie up all the loose ends and finish everything. He loved Middle-earth so much and clearly enjoyed writing it, I'll bet give him another ten years and the history of Galadriel and Celeborn (for example) would have been much clearer lol

[Ithielnor]

My favorite tale from UT has to be The Mariner's Wife or Aldarion and Erendis. Perhaps I've some undiscovered penchant for the tragic, but to me the story seems more alive than any other, even more so than some of those in the Sil.

For pure educational value, I enjoyed The Istari and The Hunt for the Ring extensively (I finally found where the name Khamul originated!). The Palantíri also clearified many interesting details, but seemed to take too long doing so. ;)

[Aragorn]

I don't think Tolkien would have wanted to clean up all the loose ends. I think he loved the mystery of lost history and the possibilities that it created. In trying to be accurate as possible about the history that he did "know", he was also accurate in making sure that some of the history was lost. It is more real this way, just as it is in our own world.

[Lynx]

I like Unfinished Tales, being a nice 'tie-in' to the Sil. I also enjoyed it more then the Sil, purely for reading pleasure, and because of the large sections of the House of Hurin, and the tale of Numenor. I really liked 'Cirion and Eorl', as it seems there aren't many stories told of the Rohirrim!

I agree, Aragorn. I think Tolkien wanted to keep a little bit of the mystery in his writings. He wrote different aspects, probably because he himself wasn't so sure of the 'right' one. So it's up to us, the Readers, to see which version we like the most. :)

[Manveri Silverleaf]

I disagree. The fact that he changed many things around (improvements, perhaps - things that became more to his vision than when originally written) appears to point more to a desire to finish, than to leave an element of mystery.

[Gwaihir]

I don't think Tokien wanted to tie in every single thing on Middle Earth. For example, the fates of many characters, like Amandil, the two blue wizards, Tuor, and Elured and Elurin remain not very certain, and it's obvious from the way some of them have been written that Tolkien probably wanted to keep them that way.

[Manveri Silverleaf]

True, and I wasn't refering to every single thing. I should have been more specific. I meant other things that had much more presence and were not quite finished. Characters like the two Blue Wizards, and even Legolas for example, didn't really come across to me as characters Tolkien planned to expand upon.