Look Out! Hungry Spider Look Out!

Nach langem hin und her habe ich mich endlich doch dazu entschlossen die Kult-Reihe "The Lord of the Rings" von Tolkien zu lesen (bzw. zu hören). Ich kann "The Fellowship of the Ring" jedem Fantasy-Fan ans Herz legen!

** slight spoilers ** // Lord of the Rings. How to describe it. It truly is the idea, the story, the world that is the blueprint for every Fantasy story since. Tolkien's world building is amazing which comes through especially in this third novel, as it connects everything and gives the reader this oversight and insight. I enjoy the richness of the descriptions as it emerges you into the world of Middle Earth. But not just his detailed lore and history pulls you in (granted, it also demands perseverance), his overall skill with telling a story and developing characters and circumstances is something to marvel at. Aragorn finding his way from Dúnedain to Ranger to King was just wonderful to read .I'd still go as far as to say that he was portrayed a smidge better in the movies. Which is a fact I can't say for any other character, since they've gained so much depth with the books. I especially enjoyed following the development of Gimmli's and Legolas' friendship, and also the relationship between Frodo and Sam, Mery and Pippin. One of the best parts of this story, imo, is the end. Maybe that's because it was so new, seeing as we don't get much of this part in the films, but it signified once more how wise and good Frodo was, how much had to be done after the big war, and it gave us a much more satisfying end to Saruman. One thing I didn't understand is Eowen's victory over the witch-king of Angmar. Don't get me wrong, I think it's great that Tolkien wrote Eowen as a woman who wants to fight herself, who finds meaning in fighting for what is dear to her. Still, the hook with "Hinder me? Thou fool. No living man may hinder me!" and her being able to kill him because she's no man but a woman felt flimsy. To me the meaning of "no living man may hinder me" lies in the word "living" not "man". With the fact, that the words "man" and "men" also stand for "human" and "humans" (even more in older literature) I always felt it wasn't so much a question whether or not the witch-kings opponent was a man or a woman but rather that there's just no living human power that could harm/hinder him. Maybe I'm wrong on that and I find something that explains this further in some of Tolkien's many other books - or someone can enlighten me :) Nonetheless, I massively enjoyed the story on a whole and particularly this third book, and I think every Fantasy genre reader should read at least the story of Lord of the Rings (1-3) and maybe The Hobbit.

Tolkien's books are some of my absolute favourite books that I will read time and time again. The Lord of the Rings was my introduction to Tolkien's world and therefore holds a special place in my heart. I would'nt recommend it to inexperienced readers, but to those who love high fantasy and enjoy some detailed world building!

Ausgezeichnet. Bücher (English) besser als Film. Tolkien ist ein großer Erzähler

Wenige Autoren sind Tolkien in Sachen Erfindungsgeist und der literarischen Fähigkeit, daraus etwas Unvergleichliches zu machen, je gleich gekommen. Und wenige konnten jemals einen ähnlich gewaltigen und in sich vollkommenen Mythos erschaffen, ohne in seine Fußstapfen zu treten. Genannt seien hier die Literaturtitanen Gene Wolfe, Steven Erikson und Mister Martin. Ps: Wer Tolkien für langatmig hält, hat einfach zu wenig Geduld. Für den reicht der banale Eskapismus-Fantasy anderer Autoren völlig aus.