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Review Summaries
"Frodo Baggins inherits his uncle Bilbo's estate, in addition to a marvelous magical ring. Soon, a friend of Bilbo's shows up and tells Frodo that the ring has to be destroyed in the fires of a special mountain or else the evil Sauron will take over all of middle earth. Frodo's friends Samwise, Meriadoc, and Peregrin join him on his trip.
They go to an inn in a little town called Bree where they meet a stranger called "Strider" by some, Aragorn by others, and he helps them evade an attempt on their lives, and accompainies them to Rivendell, where a council meets to talk about Frodo's mission.
Aragorn and Prince Boromir, as well as an elf and a dwarf, agree to help Frodo and his associates, and Gandalf joins thim, afterwhich they all journey south to destroy the ring, get seperated, and each wind up wandering around preparing the kings of middle-earth for a final battle with Sauron and his ally Saruman while Frodo and Sam draw closer to Mount Doom."
Steve Arthur, Resident J.R.R. Tolkien Scholar
"Frodo Baggins finds himself keeping the One Ring of Sauron. He flees from the pastoral land of the Shire, to Mordor, land of the enemy, which is the only place where the Ring can be destroyed. Accompanied by friends and allies, he undertakes the quest."
Oddwen, Resident J. R. R. Tolkien Scholar
"Frodo Baggins is left in charge of a very powerful and evil ring, which he is commanded to toss into the fires of Mount Doom, to destroy the evil power of Sauron. He and his faithful companions, Merry, Pippin, Gandalf, Gimli, Legolas, Boromir, Aragorn, and Samwise battle many creatures to get Frodo, the ring bearer, to Mount Doom. They are closely pursued by a fishlike creature called Gollum.
In the end, the mind-controlling powers of the Ring finally mangage to take control of Frodo, and at the brink of the deep firey chasm of Mount Doom, Frodo decides to keep the ring. However, Gollum, who is just as intent on doing the same thing, fights him, and bites off Frodo's finger with the ring. Unfortunaly for Gollum, he falls into the chasm. The Ring is Destroyed, but Frodo and company still have to set things right back at their home in the Shire."
Katie, Resident J.R.R. Tolkien Scholar
" Frodo Baggins has to distroy the One Ring, which, if returned to its owner, has the power to distroy all of Middle Earth. The ring has the power to turn its wearer invisible, but the power is corrupting and will distroy Frodo if he continues to use it. "
Anna, Resident J.R.R. Tolkien Scholar
"This is a very long, complex saga about a fantasy world and a ring that can rule over all others and the world. This is not your typical fantasy story and is not really written for children, this book goes beyond the usual fantasy storyline, it has some depth, emotional issues, relationship issues, self-sacrifice and courage. This book follows the journey of the One Ring from the Shire to the Cracks of Doom in Mordor, where the ring may only be destroyed. Along the way we meet lots of different characters, monsters, battles and a good song or poem. A must read for fantasy lovers. "
Nancy Ferrinda, Resident J.R.R. Tolkien Scholar
""One ring to rule them all". The One ring is owned by Sauron, a big evil angry dude who wants to take over the world, but the ring is cut from his hand and he 'dies'.Then the ring takes over the mind of it's new owners and the ring then, through hundreds of centuries makes its way to Frodo baggins who must journey to the cracks of doom to destroy the ring in the fire where it was forged. But Smeagol/Gollum who had the ring before it was stolen by Frodo's uncle told Sauron's servants where the ring is and now the Ring Wraiths, sauron's most powerful servants are after Frodo and the ring. And only he and he alone can destroy this ring. HE is accompanied by his loyal friend Sam Gamgee and Merry Brandybuck and Pippin Took alongside his uncle's oldest friend Gandalf The White. Together them, and 4 others formed the fellowship of the ring and set off to the Cracks Of Doom to destroy the ring. but..."
Terry Ferguson, Resident J.R.R. Tolkien Scholar
"A trilogy; "The Fellowship of the Ring", "The Two Towers", "The Return of the King" Bilbo Baggins unknowingly gives Frodo Baggins an evil ring. Frodo learns that it is evil and journeys with eight others (Hobbits: Perigrin Took, Meridoc Brandybuck, Sam Gamgee; Elf: Legolas; Dwarf: Gimli; Humans: Aragorn, Borimir; Wizard: Gandalf the Grey/ White) tho destroy the One Ring in Mt. Doom. At the river Anduin, the Fellowship breaks up, and Frodo and Sam alone are left to destroy the One Ring."
Susanna, Resident J.R.R. Tolkien Scholar
"Seldom has anyone created a myth of the power, the originality, the depth, and the range of the Middlearth saga. Its originality lies in its details, its plot, and its characters. Its grandeur derives from the seamless weave of its whole. The consistency of the created world, in which every part, small and large, dovetails and blends is unparalleled in modern fiction. The fact that it is clearly a timeless masterpiece made it a classic from day one. Perhaps if the input of the Inklings (C.S. Lewis, Charles Williams, et al) had not been available, it would have not been such a great work. Or perhaps, as Lewis said, it would have been better - its only fault is that it is too short."
Michael JR Jose, Resident J.R.R. Tolkien Scholar
"Undoubtedly the finest fantasy story ever written, Tolkien has almost single-handedly inspired an entire genre and a series of games, comic books, movies and cartoons. This classic has it all: magic; evil warlord; elves, dwarves and orcs; the quest; raging battles; the unlikely hero. It is quite simply the "best" of its kind."
Kelly Whiting, Resident J.R.R. Tolkien Scholar
"Frodo Baggins inherits the One Ring, which contains the majority of the power of Sauron, Lord of Evil in Middle-Earth. Frodo and his companions must sneak and fight their way to Mount Doom, the volcano in which the Ring was forged, in order to destroy it and Sauron. Meanwhile, Sauron launches an attack on the united forces of the West, including Men, Elves and Dwarves."
Randy Goldberg MD, 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 - 38% planning/preparing, gather info, debate puzzles/motives - 21% Feelings, relationships, character bio/development - 16% Descript. of society, phenomena (tech), places - 25%
Tone of book
- cynical or dry-wit
- suspenseful (sophisticated fear)
FANTASY or SCIENCE FICTION?
- fantasy world/fantasy past
Tech./$$$/Info hunt
Yes
Stealing/recovering/destroying
- magical artifact
Mental/magical powers focus
Yes
magical powers:
- bad magical powers hunting non/weaker magical(s) (fantasy)
Is this an adult or child's book?
- Adult or Young Adult Book
Main Character
Identity:
- Male
Profession/status:
- wealthy
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
- Strong but gentle sense of humor
Physique
- healthy but a geeky weakling
Main Adversary
Identity:
- magical being
Age:
- long-lived adults
Has magical powers?
Yes
Magical/mental powers of main antagonist:
- fire/thunder/weather cntrl
- mind reading
- mind control
- super strength
- can cast all sorts of spells
- Invisibility
Eccentric:
Yes
- obsessed
- deluded
How sensitive is this character?
- mean, arrogant
Intelligence
- Smarter than most other characters
Setting
Terrain
- Water
- Mountains
- Forests
Earth setting:
- during "Tolkien" (fairytime) times
A substantial portion of this book takes place on a non-Earth planetary body:
- humans in a primitive/fantasy society
Takes place on Earth?
Yes
Planet outside solar system?
Yes
Style
Person?
- mostly 3rd
Accounts of torture and death?
- moderately detailed references to deaths
- explicit references to deaths
How much dialogue?
- roughly even amounts of descript and dialog
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