The Lord of the Rings is an epic high fantasy novel by the English author and scholar J. R. R. Tolkien. Set in Middle-earth, the world at some distant time in the past, the story began as a sequel to Tolkien's 1937 children's book "The Hobbit", but eventually developed into a much larger work. Written in stages between 1937 and 1949, "The Lord of the Rings" is one of the best-selling books ever written, with over 150 million copies sold. The title names the story's main antagonist, the Dark Lord Sauron, who had in an earlier age created the One Ring to rule the other Rings of Power as the ultimate weapon in his campaign to conquer and rule all of Middle-earth.
Introduction
The Lord of the Rings
The Lord of the Rings | Introduction
J. R. R. Tolkien. J. R. R. Tolkien. J. R. R. Tolkien. J. R. R. Tolkien
where is sauron during the lord of the rings
user
He rules the land of Mordor
assistant
where is this land?
user
It lay to the east of Gondor and the great river Anduin, and to the south of Mirkwood.
assistant
where does this character and place make a mention?
user
The Lord of the Rings
assistant
what is this?
user
An epic high fantasy novel
assistant
can you explain the physical appearance of the ruler mentioned above?
user
Sauron took the form of a werewolf. Then he assumed a serpent-like form, and finally changed back "from monster to his own accustomed [human-like] form".
assistant
who has written the above mentioned novel?
user
Yes, he was happily married, and yes, he did have a daughter. But his wife, Edith Mary, and daughter, Priscilla, seemed to have practically no influence on his writing." They quoted the scholar of medieval and Old English literature, Linda Voigts, as defending Tolkien, pointing out that, brought up in a male world and living among male scholars at a time when "Oxford was a boys' club", he could not have been expected to be a modern feminist. Butler and Eberhard wrote that the woman in the novel see little action, giving the example of Arwen. In their opinion, a strong-willed woman, Éowyn, was created when the teenaged Priscilla asked her father for a female character.
Women in The Lord of the Rings | A story about men for boys
Fantasy author J.R.R. Tolkien wrote of being impressed as a boy by "The Black Douglas". He said he based the battle with the wargs in "The Lord of the Rings" on the battle with werewolves. However Tolkien said that he hadn't read the novel as an adult. Scholar Douglas A. Anderson has drawn parallels with the attack of the wargs in "The Hobbit". In addition, in his opinion, the ending of the chapter "The Battle of the Werewolves" in "The Black Douglas" is similar to the end of "The Siege of Gondor" in "The Lord of the Rings". Jared Lobdell has suggested "The Black Douglas"'s overall style and imagery had an influence on Tolkien, and that De Retz inspired Tolkien's character, Sauron.
The Black Douglas (novel) | Legacy
The Lord of the Rings is an epic high fantasy novel by the English author and scholar J. R. R. Tolkien. Set in Middle-earth, the world at some distant time in the past, the story began as a sequel to Tolkien's 1937 children's book "The Hobbit", but eventually developed into a much larger work. Written in stages between 1937 and 1949, "The Lord of the Rings" is one of the best-selling books ever written, with over 150 million copies sold. The title names the story's main antagonist, the Dark Lord Sauron, who had in an earlier age created the One Ring to rule the other Rings of Power as the ultimate weapon in his campaign to conquer and rule all of Middle-earth.
The Lord of the Rings | Introduction
He leads an army of men from Gondor and Rohan, marching through Ithilien to the Black Gate to distract Sauron from his true danger. His army for the Battle of the Morannon is vastly outnumbered by the great might of Mordor as Sauron attacks with overwhelming force.
The Lord of the Rings | Book Five
The Lord of the Rings is a fantasy novel by J. R. R. Tolkien. The Lord of the Rings may also refer to:
The Lord of the Rings (disambiguation) | Introduction
Saruman the White is a fictional character of J. R. R. Tolkien's fantasy novel "The Lord of the Rings". He is leader of the Istari, wizards sent to Middle-earth in human form by the godlike Valar to challenge Sauron, the main antagonist of the novel, but eventually he desires Sauron's power for himself and tries to take over Middle-earth by force from his base at Isengard. His schemes feature prominently in the second volume, "The Two Towers", and at the end of the third volume, "The Return of the King". His earlier history is given briefly in the posthumously published "The Silmarillion" and "Unfinished Tales".
Saruman | Introduction
Consistent accounts of Saruman's earlier history appear in Appendix B to "The Lord of the Rings", first published in "The Return of the King", and in the posthumously published "The Silmarillion" (1977) and "Unfinished Tales" (1980). All were written in the mid-1950s. Saruman, like Gandalf and Radagast the Brown, is one of five 'wizards', known as the Istari, who begin to arrive in Middle-earth some two thousand years before the beginning of "The Lord of the Rings". They are Maiar, envoys of the godlike Valar sent to challenge Sauron by inspiring the people of Middle-earth rather than by direct conflict.
Saruman | Other books
Saruman first appeared during a fourth phase of writing in a rough narrative outline dated August 1940. Intended to account for Gandalf's absence, it describes how a wizard titled "Saramond the White" or "Saramund the Grey", who has fallen under the influence of Sauron, lures Gandalf to his stronghold and traps him. The full story of Saruman's betrayal was later added to the existing chapters. Several of Saruman's other appearances in the book emerged in the process of writing. Christopher Tolkien believes that the old man seen by Aragorn, Legolas and Gimli at the edge of Fangorn forest near the beginning of "The Two Towers" is in the original drafts intended to be Gandalf.
Saruman | Creation and development
The book is set in the huge castle of Gormenghast, a vast landscape of crumbling towers and ivy-filled quadrangles that has for centuries been the hereditary residence of the Groan family and with them a legion of servants. The Groan family is headed by Lord Sepulchrave, the seventy-sixth Earl of Groan. He is a melancholy man who feels shackled by his duties as Earl, although he never questions them. His only escape is reading in his library. His wife is the Countess Gertrude. Large and imposing, with dark red hair, she pays no attention to her family or to the rest of Gormenghast.
Titus Groan | Plot introduction
King wrote "Trollslayer" (1999), the first novel for the Black Library label. His most memorable characters, Gotrek and Felix, have appeared in a series of novels, beginning with "Trollslayer", a collection of previously published and new short stories. His next-most-famous character is Ragnar Blackmane, a Space Marine from the "Warhammer 40,000" game setting universe (although the character was already in existence in the game and background material, King took him and expanded his history in the novel series). In 2010, he signed a three-book deal with Black Library that will focus on elven brothers Tyrion and Teclis.
William King (author) | Career
She is clearly mad.
Hastur Lord | Book Three: Danilo
Brian Staveley is an American fantasy writer. He has written an epic fantasy trilogy, "The Chronicles of the Unhewn Throne", as well as a prequel novel, "Skullsworn", in addition to short fiction.
Brian Staveley | Introduction
Tolkien. He is married and has two daughters.
Martin Simonson | Introduction
In "The History of The Lord of the Rings" series Christopher Tolkien recorded that his father had not foreseen the emergence of Faramir during the writing of the book, only inventing him at the actual point of his appearance in "The Two Towers". J. R. R. Tolkien noted that the introduction of Faramir had led to postponement of the book's dénouement and to further development of the background for Gondor and Rohan. Long after completing "The Lord of the Rings", Tolkien would write that of all characters Faramir resembles the author most, and that he had deliberately bestowed upon the character several traits of his own.
Faramir | Introduction
One of the author's favorite books, "The Lord of the Rings", lent several words and images to "Animorphs": the elvish word for Orc, "yrch", became Yeerk; the flaming red Eye of Sauron inspired the Crayak, and Ax's middle name, "Esgarrouth", is based on a town in the books called Esgaroth. The human name of Ax's brother, Elfangor, is Alan Fangor and his last name is in reference to the Fangor region or Fangorn Forest. Also there was a minor reference to Gondor, in the form of a fictional company named "Gondor Industries" in the 14th book. (It may also be significant that Visser Three's host is named Alloran, a rough homonym of Gandalf's Valinorean name "Olórin", and that one of the minor alien races is called "the Five", which is also a term used in "The Lord of the Rings" for the Istari.) Applegate's writing was inspired by her family.
Animorphs | Development
Gormenghast is a fantasy novel by British writer Mervyn Peake, the second in his Gormenghast series. It is the story of Titus Groan, 77th Earl of Groan and Lord of Gormenghast Castle, from age 7 to 17. As the story opens, Titus dreads the pre-ordained life of ritual that stretches before him. To Titus, Master of Ritual Barquentine and his apprentice Steerpike are the embodiment of all he wants to rebel against. An important sub-plot involves Titus at school, where he encounters the professors, especially Bellgrove, who becomes Headmaster of Gormenghast school.
Gormenghast (novel) | Introduction
The novel is set in the land of Gwynedd, one of the fictional Eleven Kingdoms. Gwynedd itself is a medieval kingdom similar to the British Isles of the 12th century, with a powerful Holy Church (based on the Roman Catholic Church), and a feudal government ruled by a hereditary monarchy. The population of Gwynedd includes both humans and Deryni, a race of people with inherent physic and magical abilities who have been brutally persecuted and suppressed for over two centuries. The novel begins over two years after the conclusion of "High Deryni", shortly after the seventeenth birthday of King Kelson Haldane.
The Bishop's Heir | Plot introduction
Lord Foul's Bane is a fantasy novel by American writer Stephen R. Donaldson, the first book of the first trilogy of The Chronicles of Thomas Covenant series. It is followed by "The Illearth War".
Lord Foul's Bane | Introduction
In a general review of "The Cambridge Companion to Fantasy Literature", edited by Edward James and Farah Mendlesohn, Erikson fired a shot across the bow of "the state of scholarship in the fantastic as it pertains to epic fantasy," taking particularly to task James's opening lines in Chapter 5 of that volume. Erikson uses a handful of words from that chapter as an epigraph for a quasi-autobiographical essay in "The New York Review of Science Fiction". James's sentences read in full: Erikson writes, "But epic fantasy has moved on, something critics have failed to notice." He goes on, Erikson concludes, "So, Professor James, when you say 'since [Tolkien and "The Lord of the Rings"]...
Malazan Book of the Fallen | Influences
Tolkien had been writing "The Lord of the Rings" for several years when Saruman came into existence as the solution to a long-unresolved plot development, and his role and characteristics continued to emerge in the course of writing. Tolkien started work on the book in late 1937, but was initially unsure of how the story would develop. Unlike some of the other characters in the book, Saruman had not appeared in Tolkien's 1937 novel, "The Hobbit", or in his then-unpublished "Quenta Silmarillion" and related mythology, which date back to 1917. When he wrote of Gandalf's failure to meet Frodo, Tolkien did not know what had caused it and later said: "Most disquieting of all, Saruman had never been revealed to me, and I was as concerned as Frodo at Gandalf's failure to appear." Tolkien's son, Christopher, has said that the early stages of the creation of "The Lord of the Rings" proceeded in a series of waves, and that having produced the first half of "The Fellowship of the Ring", Tolkien rewrote the tale from the start three times.
Saruman | Creation and development
Tolkien began writing "The Lord of the Rings" with no conception of Black Riders at all. The horseman in dark clothes in the early chapter "Three is Company" was originally Gandalf; in 1938, Tolkien called the figure's transformation into a Black Rider "an unpremeditated turn". Frodo's ring, too, was simply a magic ring conferring invisibility, both in "The Hobbit" and early drafts of "The Lord of the Rings", with no link to Sauron. However, Tolkien was at the time starting to consider the true nature of the Ring, and the idea that it had been made by the Necromancer, and drew itself or its bearer back to him.
Nazgûl | Development
The Eye of Sauron is mentioned in "The Stand", a post-apocalyptic novel written by Stephen King. The villain Randall Flagg possesses an astral body in the form of an "Eye" akin to the Lidless Eye. The novel itself was conceived by King as a "fantasy epic like "The Lord of the Rings", only with an American setting". The idea of Sauron as a sleepless eye that watches and seeks the protagonists also influenced King's epic fantasy series "The Dark Tower"; its villain, the Crimson King, is a similarly disembodied evil presence whose icon is also an eye. In the Marvel Comics Universe, the supervillain Sauron, an enemy of the X-Men, names himself after the Tolkien character.
Sauron | In culture
On the scene where Old Nan offers to tell Bran stories, she claims that his favorites are the ones about Ser Duncan the Tall. The tales of Duncan and his squire Egg are a series of novellas written by author George R. R. Martin, taking place about a hundred years before the events of "Game of Thrones".
Lord Snow | Other
The Wishsong of Shannara is an epic fantasy novel by American writer Terry Brooks. It is the final novel in the Original Shannara Trilogy, with the other two being "The Sword of Shannara" and "The Elfstones of Shannara". The story revolves around Jair and Brin Ohmsford, the children of the main characters from "The Elfstones of Shannara": Wil Ohmsford and Eretria. The siblings, each possessing an inherited magic, must save the Four Lands from the evil magic within a tome called the Ildatch.
The Wishsong of Shannara | Introduction
The Goblin Emperor is a 2014 fantasy novel written by the American author Sarah Monette under the pseudonym Katherine Addison. The novel received the Locus Award for Best Fantasy Novel and was nominated for the Nebula, Hugo and World Fantasy Awards. It was well-received by critics, who noted the strength of the protagonist's characterization and, unusual for fantasy, the work's warm and understated tone. The book tells the story of Maia, a young man of mixed Elven and Goblin heritage, who unexpectedly becomes Emperor of the Elflands, and has to contend with the court's byzantine power structure as well as racial and social tension in his realm.
The Goblin Emperor | Introduction
Meanwhile, Sam rescues Frodo from the tower of Cirith Ungol. They set out across Mordor. When they reach the edge of the Cracks of Doom, Frodo cannot resist the Ring any longer. He claims it for himself and puts it on his finger. Gollum suddenly reappears. He struggles with Frodo and bites off Frodo's finger with the Ring still on it. Celebrating wildly, Gollum loses his footing and falls into the Fire, taking the Ring with him. When the Ring is destroyed, Sauron loses his power forever. All he created collapses, the Nazgûl perish, and his armies are thrown into such disarray that Aragorn's forces emerge victorious.
The Lord of the Rings | Book Six
The Ringworld Throne is a science fiction novel by American writer Larry Niven, first published in 1996. It is the direct sequel to his previous work "The Ringworld Engineers" (1980). He wrote it as a replacement after being unable to finish his contracted novel "The Ghost Ships", the sequel to "The Integral Trees" and "The Smoke Ring".
The Ringworld Throne | Introduction
The Lord of Castle Black is the second volume of "The Viscount of Adrilankha", a three-volume novel by Steven Brust that collectively serves as the third novel in his Khaavren Romances. As with the other novels in that series, the book is heavily influenced by the d'Artagnan Romances by Alexandre Dumas. It features the backstory of Morrolan e'Drien, a character originally introduced in the Vlad Taltos novels, which are also set in Brust's fictional world of Dragaera.
The Viscount of Adrilankha | The Lord of Castle Black
Conan and the Death Lord of Thanza is a fantasy novel by American writer Roland Green, featuring Robert E. Howard's sword and sorcery hero Conan the Barbarian. It was first published in paperback by Tor Books in January 1997.
Conan and the Death Lord of Thanza | Introduction
Leaving, they are caught by a barrow-wight, who traps them in a barrow on the downs. Frodo, awakening from the barrow-wight's spell, manages to call Bombadil, who frees them, and equips them with ancient swords from the barrow-wight's hoard. The hobbits reach the village of Bree, where they encounter a Ranger named Strider. The innkeeper gives Frodo a letter from Gandalf written three months before which identifies Strider as a friend. Strider leads the hobbits into the wilderness after another close escape from the Black Riders, who they now know to be the Nazgûl, who are Ringwraiths, servants of Sauron.
The Lord of the Rings | Book One
Sabriel is a fantasy novel by Garth Nix, first published in 1995. It is the first in his Old Kingdom series, followed by "Lirael", "Abhorsen", "Clariel" and "Goldenhand".
Sabriel | Introduction
At the end of the novel the death of Harold is described. Rathbone has him buried in a shroud made from a banner depicting the "Fighting Man of Cerne".
The Last English King | Introduction
He then married Arwen and ruled for 122 years. Tolkien developed the character over a long period, beginning with a hobbit nicknamed Trotter, and trying out many names before arriving at a Man named Aragorn.
Aragorn | Introduction
This is a list of characters from "The Old Kingdom Series", a set of novels by Australian author Garth Nix. The series comprises five novels: "Sabriel" (1995), "Lirael" (2001), "Abhorsen" (2003), "Clariel" (2014), and "Goldenhand" (2016). In 2006, "" was released, which contained the novella "The Creature in the Case", which was set after "Abhorsen".
List of Old Kingdom characters | Introduction
Frodo recovers in Rivendell under Elrond's care. The Council of Elrond discusses the history of Sauron and the Ring. Strider is revealed to be Aragorn, the heir of Isildur who cut the Ring from Sauron's hand, but failed to destroy it. Gandalf reports that the chief wizard Saruman has betrayed them and is now working to become a Sauron-like power in his own right. Gandalf was captured by Saruman and had to escape, explaining why he had failed to return to meet Frodo as he had promised. The Council decides that the Ring must be destroyed, but that can only be done by sending it to the fire of Mount Doom in Mordor, where it was forged.
The Lord of the Rings | Book Two
Tolkien never describes Sauron's appearance in detail, though he painted a watercolour illustration of him. Sarah Crown, in "The Guardian", writes that "we're never ushered into his presence; we don't hear him speak. All we see is his influence". She calls it "a bold move, to leave the book's central evil so undefined – an edgeless darkness given shape only through the actions of its subordinates", with the result that he becomes "truly unforgettable ... vaster, bolder and more terrifying through his absence than he could ever have been through his presence". He was initially able to change his appearance at will, but when he became Morgoth's servant, he took a sinister shape.
Sauron | Physical body
For a short period while writing a background lore behind the ring, Tolkien was struggling with the idea that the Elven rings must be given a "special status"—somehow linked to the One Ring, and thus endangered by it, but also "unsullied" that it would involve them having no direct connection with Sauron. By the time he was writing the chapter "The Mirror of Galadriel", Tolkien resolved to write that the Seven and the Nine were made by the Elven-smiths of Eregion under Sauron's guidance; but the Three were made by Celebrimbor alone, while Sauron secretly made the One, which has the power over the others, and once the Elves have finally realised what his deception, they immediately hid the Three.
Rings of Power | Publication history
In January 2000, he began writing fiction. His first novel, which he has described as a black comedy, was not accepted for publication. His second novel, a courtroom drama, was published in the United States as "The Final Witness" in 2002 and in the United Kingdom as "The Stepmother" in 2003. His second published work, "The Inheritance" (the first of a trilogy featuring Inspector Trave of the Oxfordshire Criminal Investigation Department), was published in 2010. The second book of the Inspector Trave trilogy, "The King of Diamonds", was published in 2011. The third and final book in the trilogy, "Orders from Berlin", was published in 2012.
Simon Tolkien | Writings
Elantris is a fantasy novel written by American fantasy and science fiction writer Brandon Sanderson. The book was published on April 21, 2005 by Tor Books and was Sanderson's first published book. The book gained generally positive reviews, and has been translated into multiple languages. Two related works, "Hope of Elantris" and "The Emperor's Soul", have been released, and two additional novels in the series have been announced. The story follows three main characters: Prince Raoden of Arelon, Princess Sarene of Teod, and the priest Hrathen of Fjordell. At the beginning of the story, Raoden is cursed by an ancient transformation known as the Shaod and secretly exiled to the city of Elantris just days before his betrothed, princess Sarene of Teod, arrives for their wedding.
Elantris | Introduction
Bored of the Rings is a parody of J. R. R. Tolkien's "The Lord of the Rings". This short novel was written by Henry Beard and Douglas Kenney, who later founded "National Lampoon". It was published in 1969 by Signet for the "Harvard Lampoon". In 2013, an audio version was produced by Orion Audiobooks, narrated by Rupert Degas.
Bored of the Rings | Introduction
With scant clues, he secretly leads a party to the one place most likely to have the answer to any question, the great library at Sarth Abbey. All along his journey, he is tracked by Murad, one of Murmandamus's top generals. They manage to reach the abbey, but their enemies strike again with powerful sorcery, both attacks barely repulsed by the mighty defenses of Sarth Abbey and its priests. From information gathered at the abbey, Arutha's quest turns to the elves of Elvandar for more information.
Silverthorn (novel) | Plot
He defended Gondor from Sauron on many fronts, but did not enjoy fighting for its own sake. Long after completing "The Lord of the Rings", Tolkien would write, "As far as any character is 'like me', it is Faramir". Faramir's relationship to war in Tolkien's story reflected that of the author himself, who served as an officer in the British Army during the First World War and fought in the Battle of the Somme in the latter half of 1916. Tolkien bestowed his dream of "darkness unescapable" upon Faramir's character, who relates it to Éowyn in the chapter "The Steward and the King" in "The Return of the King".
Faramir | Characteristics
Self-proclaimed "King of the Trolls", this is a large and ancient troll living underneath the castle of an Earl. Although solitary, he maintains dominance over all the trolls in the region, and is therefore considered their superior. Addressed by Agatha Falon as "Grandfather" by reason of the years she spent as his ward.
Dragon Knight (novel series) | Mnrogar
The request for a sequel prompted Tolkien to begin what would become his most famous work: the epic novel "The Lord of the Rings" (originally published in three volumes 1954–1955). Tolkien spent more than ten years writing the primary narrative and appendices for "The Lord of the Rings", during which time he received the constant support of the Inklings, in particular his closest friend C. S. Lewis, the author of "The Chronicles of Narnia". Both "The Hobbit" and "The Lord of the Rings" are set against the background of "The Silmarillion", but in a time long after it. Tolkien at first intended "The Lord of the Rings" to be a children's tale in the style of "The Hobbit", but it quickly grew darker and more serious in the writing.
J. R. R. Tolkien | "The Lord of the Rings"
Dragonsdale is a fantasy novel written by The Two Steves (Steve Barlow and Steve Skidmore) under the pen name "Salamanda Drake" and published by Scholastic in 2007. There is one sequel, "Riding the Storm" (2008). ISFDB catalogues the two novels as the Dragonriders of Bresal series.
Dragonsdale | Introduction
The Viscount of Adrilankha is a fantasy novel by American writer Steven Brust, published in three volumes. Collectively, the three books form the third novel in the Khaavren Romances series. It is set in the fantasy world of Dragaera. Like the other books in the series, the novel is heavily influenced by and homages the d'Artagnan Romances written by Alexandre Dumas, and is written by Brust in the voice and persona of a Dragaeran novelist, Paarfi of Roundwood, whose style is a tongue-in-cheek parody of Dumas, matching both his swashbuckling sense of adventure and his penchant for tangents and longwindedness.
The Viscount of Adrilankha | Introduction
The former lord of Malencontri, much disliked by Aragh and Sir Brian. Betrayed England to enlist in the services of the Dark Powers, and later fled England, to re-appear in later books. Deposed by Jim/Gorbash and their allies. Notable for having scarred Lady Geronde, so that she remains 'disfigured' according to the standards of her society until her marriage to Sir Brian, whereat she is restored to her former appearance by an act of magic considered unusual by the other characters.
Dragon Knight (novel series) | Sir Hugh de Bois
Sauron sends a great army against Gondor. Gandalf arrives at Minas Tirith to warn Denethor of the attack, while Théoden musters the Rohirrim to ride to Gondor's aid. Minas Tirith is besieged; the Lord of the Nazgûl uses a battering-ram and the power of his Ring to destroy the city's gates. Denethor, deceived by Sauron, falls into despair. He burns himself alive on a pyre, nearly taking his son Faramir with him. Aragorn, accompanied by Legolas, Gimli and the Rangers of the North, takes the Paths of the Dead to recruit the Dead Men of Dunharrow, who are bound by a curse which denies them rest until they fulfil their ancient oath to fight for the King of Gondor.
The Lord of the Rings | Book Five
The early chapters "A Conspiracy Unmasked", "The Old Forest", "In the House of Tom Bombadil", and "Fog on the Barrow-Downs" are essentially omitted completely, though brief mentions of these are made later. The penultimate chapter "The Scouring of the Shire" is omitted, though its scene of the death of Saruman is retained in the extended version.
The Lord of the Rings: film versus book | Omissions
Orcs and Trolls became his servants, with Easterlings and men of Harad.
Sauron | The Rings of Power in the Second Age
The same plot point was used by the Russian writer [[Vladimir Berezin (writer)|Vladimir Berezin]] in his novel "Road Signs" (from the [[Universe of Metro 2033]]). Another Russian writer, [[Kirill Eskov]], wrote "[[The Last Ringbearer]]", about the events in "Lord of the Rings" from the perspective of Sauron. [[Stephen King]], best known for horror novels, has acknowledged Tolkien's influence on his novel "[[The Stand]]" as well as his fantasy series "[[The Dark Tower (series)|The Dark Tower]]". Several other prominent fantasy writers, including [[George R. R. Martin]], [[Michael Swanwick]], [[Raymond E. Feist]], [[Poul Anderson]], [[Karen Haber]], [[Harry Turtledove]], [[Charles De Lint]], and [[Orson Scott Card]], have all acknowledged Tolkien's work as an inspiration for their own fantasy work.
Works inspired by J. R. R. Tolkien | Fantasy
"The Book of Sigils", written by Anthony Savile, presents new options for wizard characters interested in more detail about magic in the world of "Castle Falkenstein", as well as details about The Sorcerous Orders of New Europa.
The Book of Sigils | Contents
Tolkien regarded them as being somewhat like incarnate angels. Saruman initially travels in the east; he is later appointed head of the White Council and eventually settles at Gondor's outpost of Isengard. Fifty years before "The Lord of the Rings", after his studies reveal that the One Ring might be found in the river Anduin near Sauron's stronghold at Dol Guldur, he helps the White Council drive out Sauron in order to facilitate his search. "Unfinished Tales" also contains various drafts not included in "The Lord of the Rings" that describe Saruman's attempts to frustrate Sauron's chief servants, the Nazgûl, in their search for the Ring during the early part of "The Fellowship of the Ring"; in one version he considers throwing himself on Gandalf's mercy.
Saruman | Other books
Gauntlgrym is a fantasy novel by American writer R. A. Salvatore set in the Forgotten Realms campaign setting; it is the first book in the Neverwinter Saga. Released in October 2010, it follows the continued adventures of drow elf renegade, Drizzt Do'Urden. This story is set 24 years after the end of "Transitions: The Ghost King".
Gauntlgrym | Introduction
The novel takes the form of a personal account written by the President of Britannula about the island's recent history. It has frequently been remarked that when the book came out Trollope himself had reached the age of 67, the exact age at which all Britannulans are obliged by law to retire from their worldly affairs and begin a year of preparation for death.
The Fixed Period | Introduction
The Dragon Lord is a historical fantasy or sword and sorcery novel by American writer David Drake. First published in 1979 and revised in 1982, the novel is set in sixth century Arthurian Britain.
The Dragon Lord | Introduction
Brian Attebery accused "The Sword of Shannara" of being "undigested Tolkien" which was "especially blatant in its point-for-point correspondence" with "The Lord of the Rings". In an educational article on writing, author Orson Scott Card cited "The Sword of Shannara" as a cautionary example of overly derivative writing, finding the work "artistically displeasing" for this reason. Tolkien scholar Tom Shippey writes that the novel is distinctive for "the dogged way in which it follows Tolkien point for point". Shippey located analogues for Tolkien characters within Brooks' novel, such as Sauron (Brona), Gandalf (Allanon), the Hobbits (Shea and Flick), Aragorn (Menion), Boromir (Balinor), Gimli (Hendel), Legolas (Durin and Dayel), Gollum (Orl Fane), the Barrow-wight (Mist Wraith), the Nazgûl (Skull Bearers), and Tom Bombadil (King of the Silver River), among others.
The Sword of Shannara | Similarities with "The Lord of the Rings"
Sauron (pronounced ) is the title character and the main antagonist, through the forging of the One Ring, of J. R. R. Tolkien's "The Lord of the Rings", where he rules the land of Mordor and has the ambition of ruling the whole of Middle-earth. In the same work, he is identified as the "Necromancer" of Tolkien's earlier novel "The Hobbit". In "The Silmarillion", he is also described as the chief lieutenant of the first Dark Lord, Morgoth. Tolkien noted that the Ainur, the "angelic" powers of his constructed myth, "were capable of many degrees of error and failing", but by far the worst was "the absolute Satanic rebellion and evil of Morgoth and his satellite Sauron".
Sauron | Introduction
His servants are seven lupine creatures called the Seven Sleepers, who like him have the power of shape-changing. It is suggested that the Wyrm Lord caused the Realm to separate from the readers' world. His 'Black Breath', which obscures vision, creates a frightening backdrop for the Final Storm after which the third book is named. He dies as a result of having ingested the blood of Falon the mortiwraith. Zabediel/Zabed: A scribe in the service of King Eliam. Zabed has lived for millennia. It was he who wrote on the scroll taken from Sil Arnoth the location of the Wyrm Lord, and the prophecies of Paragor's rise and that of the Three Witnesses.
The Door Within Trilogy | Major characters
The Return of the King is the third volume of J. R. R. Tolkien's fantasy novel "The Lord of the Rings" as originally printed. The Return of the King may also refer to:
The Return of the King (disambiguation) | Introduction
The master thereupon bestirred himself, waking, as it were, from sleep. He threw the curtains of the houdah up, looked at the sun, surveyed the country on every side long and carefully, as if to identify an appointed place.” Tolkien wrote in "The Lord of the Rings" of the Mûmakil (Elephants) of Harad with howdahs on their backs.
Howdah | References in literature
Martin has written several prequel novellas. The "Tales of Dunk and Egg" series, three novellas set 90 years before the events of the novel series, feature the adventures of Ser Duncan the Tall and his squire "Egg", who later became King Aegon V Targaryen. The stories have no direct connection to the plot of "A Song of Ice and Fire", although both characters are mentioned in "A Storm of Swords" and "A Feast For Crows", respectively. The first installment, "The Hedge Knight", was published in the 1998 anthology "Legends". "The Sworn Sword" followed in 2003, published in "Legends II". Both were later adapted into graphic novels.
A Song of Ice and Fire | Novellas
In the rush to print, Remington had no time to read the book, and surprised Tolkien with details such as a tree with pumpkin-like fruits, and a lion, which was painted out for later editions.
The Lord of the Rings | Illustrations
[a] The volume published as "The Silmarillion" in 1977 contains four books in addition to the "Quenta Silmarillion". The last of these—"Of the Rings of Power and the Third Age"—covers Saruman's earlier history, but was written after "The Lord of the Rings".
Saruman | Notes
Oelph himself became a doctor, eventually taking Vosill's post as the royal physician. Tassasen endured a civil war after the death of Protector UrLeyn; eventually King Lattens took control of the Empire, ruling it quietly. Oelph explains that he stopped DeWar's story as he did because that is where versions of the story differ dramatically. The more popular version has DeWar personally execute Perrund, followed by a return to the Half-Hidden Kingdoms where he reclaims his hidden title as Prince, and eventually King. A second version, supposedly written by Perrund herself, instead has DeWar telling the waiting guards and staff that UrLeyn is fine but sleeping, this and other distractions providing enough time for him and the former concubine to flee Tassasen before the Protector's body is discovered.
Inversions (novel) | Epilogue
A witch, Jenny Waynest, and lord, John Aversin, who live in the decaying Northlands are approached by a young southern noble, Gareth, who requests they slay a dragon in the capital city of Bel to the south. The pair agree on the condition the king send troops to the north to fend off bandits. On arriving, it is revealed that Gareth is not a mere noble, but the prince of the realm seeking aid against the wishes of his father. The dragon is revealed as Morkeleb the Black, an ancient and powerful dragon, now inhabiting the caverns of the gnomes.
Dragonsbane | Plot summary
The novel is set in the land of Gwynedd, one of the fictional Eleven Kingdoms. Gwynedd itself is a medieval kingdom similar to the British Isles of the 11th century, with a powerful Holy Church (based on the Roman Catholic Church), and a feudal government ruled by a hereditary monarchy. The population of Gwynedd includes both humans and Deryni, a race of people with inherent psychic and magical abilities who have persecuted and suppressed for almost two centuries. The novel begins one hundred and fifty-four years after the conclusion of "The Bastard Prince" and thirty-eight years before the beginning of "Deryni Rising".
In the King's Service | Plot introduction
The original manuscripts, which total 9,250 pages, now reside in the J. R. R. Tolkien Collection at Marquette University.
The Lord of the Rings | Writing
J. R. R. Tolkien's fantasy novel "The Hobbit" was written as children's fiction, but as the story grew into "The Lord of the Rings" the matter expanded, borrowing from Germanic and Norse mythology for many of its themes, creatures, and names. Of twenty magical Rings of Power, four are described in some detail: The extremely powerful and dangerous "One Ring" around which the plot revolves; and three rings worn by Gandalf the wizard and the elves Elrond and Galadriel. Seven Rings of Power were given to the dwarves in an only slightly successful attempt to corrupt them. Humans prove to be more susceptible; each of the nine Nazgûl were once great lords of men who were turned to terrifying wraiths and servants of the Dark Lord Sauron by their respective rings.
Magic ring | "The Hobbit" and "Lord of the Rings"
There is an inscription in Fëanorian characters (Tengwar, an alphabet Tolkien devised for the High-Elves) on the title pages of every "History of Middle-earth" volume, written by Christopher Tolkien and describing the contents of the book.
The History of The Lord of the Rings | Tengwar inscriptions
Eskov bases his novel on the premise that the Tolkien account is a "history written by the victors". Eskov's version of the story describes Mordor as a peaceful constitutional monarchy on the verge of an industrial revolution, that poses a threat to the war-mongering and imperialistic faction represented by Gandalf (whose attitude has been described by Saruman as "crafting the Final Solution to the Mordorian problem") and the racist elves. For example, Barad-dûr, Sauron's citadel, appears in chapter 2 as The tale begins by recapping the War of the Ring. The Ring itself is a luxurious ornament, but powerless, crafted by the Nazgûl (a group of ancient scientists and philosophers who take turns as the Nine to guide Mordor through its industrialization) to distract Gandalf and the Elves while Mordor built up its army.
The Last Ringbearer | Plot
The Dragon Lord is a novel by Peter Morwood published in 1986.
The Dragon Lord (1986 novel) | Introduction
In the course of this effort, he again visits the Red Sun Whorl, where he meets a young Severian and inspires him to write a book. Once free, he returns to Lizard and New Viron, where the final riddle of his identity is solved, and helps defend against a massive attack of inhumi during Hide's wedding. When the book ends, he and his companions (Nettle, Seawrack, Oreb, and Marble) have apparently returned finally to the Whorl, which then departs for the stars.
The Book of the Short Sun | "Return to the Whorl"
Conan, Lord of the Black River is a fantasy novel by American writer Leonard Carpenter, featuring Robert E. Howard's sword and sorcery hero Conan the Barbarian. It was first published in paperback by Tor Books in April 1996.
Conan, Lord of the Black River | Introduction
The Further Chronicles of Conan is a collection of fantasy novels written by Robert Jordan featuring the sword and sorcery hero Conan the Barbarian, created by Robert E. Howard. The book was first published in hardcover in October 1999 by Tor Books, with a trade paperback edition following in September 2004 from the same publisher. It collects three novels previously published by Tor.
The Further Chronicles of Conan | Introduction
He felt that selective omission would be better than compression as in the script he was shown, with "resultant over-crowding and confusion, blurring of climaxes, and general degradation".
The Lord of the Rings: film versus book | Tolkien's fantasy novel
Drake introduces the novel: "The Isles have been more or less unified under Garric's rule, but the Change that created the continent has removed the old Gods of the Isles from reality and released other Gods from other planes of existence. Now the servants of the forbidden Gods of Palomir call forth the Worm, an ancient thing that threatens to devour all life in the newly formed kingdom and make way for the reign of dark Gods, newly awakened to ambitions of worship and domination. Some are bad... and some are worse."
The Gods Return | Plot introduction
There is an inscription in the Fëanorian characters (Tengwar, an alphabet Tolkien has devised for High-Elves) in the first pages of every "History of Middle-earth" volume, written by Christopher Tolkien and describing the contents of the book. The inscription in Book I reads: The inscription in Book II reads:
The Book of Lost Tales | Inscription
Gormenghast is a fantasy series by British author Mervyn Peake, about the inhabitants of Castle Gormenghast, a sprawling, decaying, Gothic structure. Originally conceived as a single on-going novel, the series was ended by Peake's death and comprises three novels – "Titus Groan" (1946), "Gormenghast" (1950) and "Titus Alone" (1959) – and a novella, "Boy in Darkness" (1956), whose canonical status is debated. Peake was writing a fourth novel, "Titus Awakes", at the time of his death in 1968; the book was later completed by Peake's widow in the early 70's, and after being discovered by her descendants it was published in 2009.
Gormenghast (series) | Introduction
"The Lord of the Rings" begins with Bilbo's "eleventy-first" (111th) birthday, 60 years after the beginning of "The Hobbit". The main character of the novel is Frodo Baggins, Bilbo's cousin, who celebrates his 33rd birthday and legally comes of age on the same day. Bilbo has kept the magic ring, with no idea of its significance, all that time; it has prolonged his life, leaving him feeling "thin and stretched". At the party, Bilbo tries to leave with the ring, but Gandalf persuades him to leave it behind for Frodo. Bilbo travels to Rivendell and visits the dwarves of the Lonely Mountain before returning to retire at Rivendell and write books.
Bilbo Baggins | "The Lord of the Rings"
He wrote back in strongly approving terms, telling Fairburn her pictures were "splendid. They are better pictures in themselves and also show far more attention to the text than any that have yet been submitted to me" (letter of 24 May 1968). In a subsequent letter, he wrote, "After seeing your specimens I am beginning to change my mind [that is, about not having "The Lord of the Rings" illustrated], and I think that an illustrated edition might be a good thing." However, soon after this, Tolkien broke his leg in a fall, and was hospitalised; Fairburn was in difficult financial circumstances and needed to urgently pursue more immediately rewarding work, and the Tolkien family home in Oxford was packed up for a move to the English south coast.
Mary Fairburn | Introduction
The novel is set in the land of Gwynedd, one of the fictional Eleven Kingdoms. Gwynedd itself is a medieval kingdom similar to the British Isles of the 10th century, with a powerful Holy Church (based on the Roman Catholic Church), and a feudal government ruled by a hereditary monarchy. The population of Gwynedd includes both humans and Deryni, a race of people with inherent psychic and magical abilities who are being systematically persecuted by both the Crown and the Church. The novel begins almost three years after the conclusion of "The Harrowing of Gwynedd", as the continuously poor health of young King Alroy Haldane has brought him to his deathbed.
King Javan's Year | Plot introduction
This book was a prequel to the main Malazan sequence. His second novel, "Return of the Crimson Guard", takes place within the main Malazan sequence, shortly after the events of the sixth book, "The Bonehunters". It was published by PS Publishing in May 2008 and by Bantam UK later that year. Both "Night of Knives" and "Return of the Crimson Guard" have now been bought by Tor for publication in the United States. His third novel, "Stonewielder", was published by Bantam UK in 2010 and Tor in the US. His fourth novel, "Orb Sceptre Throne" was published in 2012. In spring 2014 he signed a contract with Bantam for three more novels set in the Malazan world.
Ian C. Esslemont | Works
He survives an attempted coup by his half-brother's widow and his lord chancellor because his young nephew Idra refuses to usurp the throne, and his investigation into the death of his father uncovers a conspiracy by disaffected noblemen that had been using a group of worker revolutionaries to kill the previous Emperor. The end of the novel sees Maia survive an assassination attempt by the conspiracy's ringleader, and push through a controversial project to bridge the realm's principal river. An epithet accorded to him by a courtier, "the bridgebuilder", represents his efforts to connect emotionally with the people surrounding him slowly coming to fruition.
The Goblin Emperor | Synopsis
Large Orcs, Uruk-hai, sent by Saruman and other Orcs sent by Sauron kill Boromir and capture Merry and Pippin. Aragorn, Gimli and Legolas decide to pursue the Orcs taking Merry and Pippin to Saruman. In the kingdom of Rohan, the Orcs are killed by Riders of Rohan, led by Éomer. Merry and Pippin escape into Fangorn Forest, where they are befriended by Treebeard, the oldest of the tree-like Ents. Aragorn, Gimli and Legolas track the hobbits to Fangorn. There they unexpectedly meet Gandalf. Gandalf explains that he killed the Balrog. He was killed in the fight, but was sent back to Middle-earth to complete his mission.
The Lord of the Rings | Book Three
The book is split into three parts, the first of which is set 14 years after the events in "Sabriel"; the last two parts are set five years after part one. Sabriel and Touchstone have married since "Sabriel" and assumed a measure of control over the Old Kingdom. Their children Ellimere and Sameth were going to school in Ancelstierre (similarly to Sabriel) before being expected to take up their duties in the Old Kingdom.
Lirael | Plot introduction
Kenneth F. Slater wrote in Nebula Science Fiction, April 1955, "... if you don't read it, you have missed one of the finest books of its type ever to appear". Even within Tolkien's literary group, The Inklings, the work had a mixed reception. Hugo Dyson complained loudly at its readings, whereas C. S. Lewis had very different feelings, writing, "here are beauties which pierce like swords or burn like cold iron. Here is a book which will break your heart." Lewis observed that the writing is rich, in that some of the 'good' characters have darker sides, and likewise some of the villains have "good impulses".
The Lord of the Rings | 1950s
Martin wrote three separate novellas set ninety years before the events of the novels. These novellas are known as the "Tales of Dunk and Egg" after the main protagonists, Ser Duncan the Tall and his squire "Egg", the later King Aegon V Targaryen. The stories have no direct connection to the plot of "A Song of Ice and Fire", although both characters are mentioned in "A Storm of Swords" and "A Feast For Crows", respectively. The novellas were published in short story anthologies: The unfinished series of novellas is to continue to be published in a series of collections entitled "A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms".
Works based on A Song of Ice and Fire | "Dunk and Egg"
As the story progressed, he brought in elements from "The Silmarillion" mythology. Writing was slow, because Tolkien had a full-time academic position, marked exams to bring in a little extra income, and wrote many drafts. Tolkien abandoned "The Lord of the Rings" during most of 1943 and only restarted it in April 1944, as a serial for his son Christopher Tolkien, who was sent chapters as they were written while he was serving in South Africa with the Royal Air Force. Tolkien made another major effort in 1946, and showed the manuscript to his publishers in 1947. The story was effectively finished the next year, but Tolkien did not complete the revision of earlier parts of the work until 1949.
The Lord of the Rings | Writing
J. R. R. Tolkien's fantasy novel "The Lord of the Rings" was published in three volumes in 1954–1955, and has sold over 150 million copies. It has been translated into at least 58 languages. It takes up, according to the edition, around 1000 pages of text. Read out loud in the unabridged audiobook voiced by Rob Inglis, it has a running time of nearly 60 hours. Tolkien was involved in a proposal to make an animated film adaptation by Morton Grady Zimmerman. He was not opposed to the idea: in 1957 he wrote that an abridgement "with some good picture-work would be pleasant".
The Lord of the Rings: film versus book | Tolkien's fantasy novel
There is an inscription in the Fëanorian characters (Tengwar, an alphabet Tolkien has devised for High-Elves) in the first pages of every History of Middle-earth volume, written by Christopher Tolkien and describing the contents of the book. The inscription in Book III reads:
The Lays of Beleriand | Inscription
Orb Sceptre Throne is the fourth fantasy novel by Canadian author Ian Cameron Esslemont set in the world of the "Malazan Book of the Fallen", co-created with Esslemont's friend and colleague Steven Erikson. "Orb Sceptre Throne" is the fourth of six novels by Esslemont to take place in the Malazan world.
Orb Sceptre Throne | Introduction
The novel is set in the land of Gwynedd, one of the fictional Eleven Kingdoms. Gwynedd itself is a medieval kingdom similar to the British Isles of the 10th century, with a powerful Holy Church (based on the Roman Catholic Church), and a feudal government ruled by a hereditary monarchy. The population of Gwynedd includes both humans and Deryni, a race of people with inherent physic and magical abilities who are being systematically persecuted by both the Crown and the Church. The novel begins five and a half years after the conclusion of "King Javan's Year", as a Deryni pretender leads his forces across the border to claim the crown of Gwynedd.
The Bastard Prince | Plot introduction
Thrones, Dominations is a Lord Peter Wimsey–Harriet Vane murder mystery novel that Dorothy L. Sayers began writing but abandoned, and which remained at her death as fragments and notes. It was completed by Jill Paton Walsh and published in 1998. The title is a quotation from John Milton's "Paradise Lost" and refers to two categories of angel in the Christian angelic hierarchy.
Thrones, Dominations | Introduction
In 1998, she completed Dorothy L. Sayers's unfinished Lord Peter Wimsey–Harriet Vane novel, "Thrones, Dominations". In 2002, she followed this up with another Lord Peter novel, "A Presumption of Death". In 2010, she published a third, "The Attenbury Emeralds". Her latest addition to the series, "The Late Scholar", was published 5 December 2013 in the UK, and 14 January 2014 in North America.
Jill Paton Walsh | Lord Peter Wimsey
He could combine medieval myths and legends, hints from poems and nearly-forgotten names to build a world of Wizards and Elves, Dwarves, Rings of Power, Hobbits, Orcs, Trolls and Ringwraiths, and heroic Men with Elvish blood in their veins, and follow their history through long ages, provided that at the end he tore it all down again, leaving nothing, once again, but dim memories. By the end of "The Lord of the Rings", the reader has learnt that the Elves have left for the Uttermost West, never to return, and that the other peoples, Dwarves, Hobbits, Ents and all the rest, are dwindling and fading, leaving only a world of Men.
Man (Middle-earth) | Fading
The "Shannara" novels are set during a future in which modern civilization has fallen and Earth is governed by various races, including humans, elves, dwarves, and others. In the second novel, "The Elfstones of Shannara", a teenaged princess named Amberle and the magic-user Wil must renew a spell which protects the world from demons. They are eventually joined by Eretria, an orphaned girl enslaved by thieves.
Eretria (Shannara) | Novel series
The Knights of Myth Drannor is a novel trilogy written by Ed Greenwood, set in the "Dungeons & Dragons" Forgotten Realms setting.
The Knights of Myth Drannor Trilogy | Introduction
The novels deal with Garric's claim to the throne of the Isles, and his attempts to unite them once again. In the process, he and his companions are challenged by foes both physical and supernatural, which they must overcome. The basic outline of many of the novels deals with the characters being split apart, often taken to parallel universes or distant periods in time, by some hostile entity or group, which they must then defeat before, or in the process of, re-uniting. Magic in the series is based on a now-dead language, the Old Script. Its characters are usually drawn using an athame (made of a variety of substances including iron, twigs and ivory) and the words spoken aloud.
Lord of the Isles (David Drake) | General outline
He builds up the realm and assembles a band of famous warriors, most notably Hjalti and Bodvar Bjarki, a were-bear and one of a trio remarkable brothers, the others being Elk-Frodhi and Thorir Houndsfoot. The story goes on to relate the personal tales of these champions.
Hrolf Kraki's Saga (novel) | Plot summary