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Review Summaries
"The Fellowship is broken. Frodo and Sam alone now travel to Mordor to destroy the One Ring. "The Three Runners," Aragorn, Legolas and Gimli track the kidnapped hobbits, Merry and Pippin. Saruman the White sends his Uruk-hai army to destroy the kingdom of Rohan. Gandalf the Grey returns as Gandalf the White, and informs The Three Runners that the hobbits are safe, and then set out to assist in the defense of Rohan."
Lynsey, Resident J.R.R. Tolkien Scholar
"War is brewing in Rohan and Gondor. Hoards of orcs, men, and the evil Uruk-hai are being trained by the forces of Sauron and Saruman, readied to overtake the last of the free men of Middle-earth. Only through the skill and strategizing of Mithrandir, the transformed wizard, can the force to repel these attacks be mustered.
Meanwhile, Frodo and Samwise continue their desperate quest to Mordor to distroy the Ring of Power. Their guide is the deceitful and trecherous Gollum. The way is harsh and cruel, but the companions are able to make their way to Cirith Ungol... But what awaits them in the darkness, only Gollum knows."
F.B.-B., Resident J.R.R. Tolkien Scholar
"The second book in the series "Lord of the Rings". Frodo and Sam go alone to the land of Mordor and find an unexpected guide-Gollum."
irina, Resident J.R.R. Tolkien Scholar
"Deep in enemy territory the Fellowship that set out to destroy the Ring is splintered. The most masterly interweaving of many plots takes place with the quests of Frodo and Sam, Merry and Pippin, Gandalf, and the Gang of Three (the dwarf, the elf, and the man) all going their separate ways: yet all destinies are fated to re-entwine. And Saruman the rogue White Wizard, a great foe, but a pale imitation of the dreaded Sauron has first to be defeated, however great the cost. Frodo and Sam must penetrate the heart of Sauron's darkness to succeed."
Michael JR Jose, Resident J.R.R. Tolkien Scholar
"In this second book of the trilogy, Gandalf returns and kicks Saruman the formerly good wizard in the butt, with the help of his tough tree friends. Meanwhile, Frodo and Sam pick up a stray hitchhiker, Gollum, who gives them a guided tour of Mordor, as they continue on their quest to destroy the ring of power."
Steve, Resident J.R.R. Tolkien Scholar
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Overall Review
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Plot
Composition of Book Descript. of chases or violence - 30% planning/preparing, gather info, debate puzzles/motives - 30% Feelings, relationships, character bio/development - 10% Descript. of society, phenomena (tech), places - 30%
Tone of book
- depressing/sad
FANTASY or SCIENCE FICTION?
- fantasy world/fantasy past
Explore/1st contact/ enviro story
Yes
Plotlets:
- roaming fantasy world, battling hostile monsters
Tech./$$$/Info hunt
Yes
Stealing/recovering/destroying
- magical artifact
War or Invasion
Yes
Major kinds of combat:
- sword fights
Is this an adult or child's book?
- Adult or Young Adult Book
Main Character
Identity:
- Male
Profession/status:
- unemployed
Age:
- 40's-50's
Has magical/special powers?
Yes
Magical/mental powers of main character:
- Invisibility
Is this an ordinary person caught up in events?
Yes
How sensitive is this character?
- sensitive to others' feelings
Sense of humor
- Mostly serious with occasional humor
Intelligence
- Smarter than most other characters
Physique
- average physique
Main Adversary
Identity:
- magical being
- Male
Age:
- long-lived adults
Profession/status:
- mage/magician
Has magical powers?
Yes
Magical/mental powers of main antagonist:
- fire/thunder/weather cntrl
- mind reading
- mind control
- can cast all sorts of spells
How much of work is main antagonist actually present in:
- almost none
- a little/some
How sensitive is this character?
- hard edged
- mean, arrogant
Sense of humor
- Cynical sense of humor
Intelligence
- Smarter than most other characters
Physique
- average physique
Setting
Terrain
- Water
- Mountains
- Forests
- Domed/Underground City
Earth setting:
- during "Tolkien" (fairytime) times
Takes place on Earth?
Yes
Style
Person?
- mostly 3rd
Accounts of torture and death?
- generic/vague references to death/punishment
- moderately detailed references to deaths
How much dialogue?
- roughly even amounts of descript and dialog
- significantly more descript than dialog