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jwdonley's review against another edition
3.0
Just some draft versions of some of the early Silmarillion. Interesting, but reading the same story in variation is starting to get redundant. I may need to take a break from HME for a bit and just read LOTR.
arvid's review against another edition
challenging
informative
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
5.0
nwhyte's review against another edition
3.0
http://nwhyte.livejournal.com/1581275.html
The Book of Lost Tales was published in 1983, interpreted from a series of longhand notebooks started by J.R.R. Tolkien in 1917, as later interpreted by his son Christopher. Tolkien's series of linked short stories were written in his spare time from his academic career and family obligations; once he decided to abandon the Lost Tales and start over, he probably did not expect that they would ever see the light of day - this is essentially a private set of thoughts whose author did not deem them ready for publication.
The book offers insights into the process of writing, crafting and drafting, trying to get it right, over the decades which led to Tolkien's great works. Occasionally one can trace particular elements to the outside world: Tolkien's town of Kortirion is very explicitly modelled on Warwick. But more often the writers are drawing on their own emotional resources and imagination, trying as it were to find the story that is trying to get out - the Tolkien drafts show constant refining to get a better result.
The Book of Lost Tales is of interest more because of what it eventually led to, and also to an extent because of what fed into it, than because of the content. Of course Tolkien drew on the ancient literature with which he was very familiar in crafting his own work; but the style seemed to me to have strong links with Lord Dunsany and with the earlier and less weird Lovecraft. Dunsany's The Gods of Pegāna had of course been published in 1905, but I see that Lovecraft only started publishing horror in 1919, so I guess it is a case of two contemporaries drawing from a common well.
I couldn't really recommend The Book of Lost Tales to anyone but a Tolkien enthusiast (and I have been one for most of my life, but have only now got around to reading it 27 years after it was published).
The Book of Lost Tales was published in 1983, interpreted from a series of longhand notebooks started by J.R.R. Tolkien in 1917, as later interpreted by his son Christopher. Tolkien's series of linked short stories were written in his spare time from his academic career and family obligations; once he decided to abandon the Lost Tales and start over, he probably did not expect that they would ever see the light of day - this is essentially a private set of thoughts whose author did not deem them ready for publication.
The book offers insights into the process of writing, crafting and drafting, trying to get it right, over the decades which led to Tolkien's great works. Occasionally one can trace particular elements to the outside world: Tolkien's town of Kortirion is very explicitly modelled on Warwick. But more often the writers are drawing on their own emotional resources and imagination, trying as it were to find the story that is trying to get out - the Tolkien drafts show constant refining to get a better result.
The Book of Lost Tales is of interest more because of what it eventually led to, and also to an extent because of what fed into it, than because of the content. Of course Tolkien drew on the ancient literature with which he was very familiar in crafting his own work; but the style seemed to me to have strong links with Lord Dunsany and with the earlier and less weird Lovecraft. Dunsany's The Gods of Pegāna had of course been published in 1905, but I see that Lovecraft only started publishing horror in 1919, so I guess it is a case of two contemporaries drawing from a common well.
I couldn't really recommend The Book of Lost Tales to anyone but a Tolkien enthusiast (and I have been one for most of my life, but have only now got around to reading it 27 years after it was published).
amandasbookreview's review against another edition
5.0
The Last Tolkien Tuesday of 2021 is fitting for the final chapters of The Book of Lost Tales Vol. 1
https://amandasbookreviewsite.wordpress.com/2021/12/28/tolkien-tuesday-the-book-of-lost-tales-the-final-two-chapters/
https://amandasbookreviewsite.wordpress.com/2021/12/28/tolkien-tuesday-the-book-of-lost-tales-the-final-two-chapters/
zlwrites's review against another edition
3.0
I'm Zach LeBrun and welcome to this edition of Christopher Tolkien's Super Fans.
With us today is the precursor to The Silmarillion, The Book o' Lost Tales, numero one.
This is for them there fans that want more of that sweet sweet mythology. Like that Iluvatar fella. Them there Valar. And..... da elves.
So grab your sweet mead and a chunk of lembas bread and shove this down your throat hole.
With us today is the precursor to The Silmarillion, The Book o' Lost Tales, numero one.
This is for them there fans that want more of that sweet sweet mythology. Like that Iluvatar fella. Them there Valar. And..... da elves.
So grab your sweet mead and a chunk of lembas bread and shove this down your throat hole.
gameofmo's review against another edition
4.0
Even as an avid Tolkien fan, this one took a bit of getting used to. But it is really worth it, especially if you’re interested in seeing how his conception of the mythology changed over mind. What I found truly interesting to read more about was how Tolkien had initially foreseen to connect his tales with the emergence of modern day England. What a start to the History!
octavia_cade's review against another edition
3.0
I enjoyed this, but I had the same issue with it as I did with volume two. (Yes, I read them backwards but I've read them both before anyway, so it doesn't really matter.) The stories themselves, even when in draft form as they often are here, are lovely. I've always liked the story of the Two Trees, and how they're destroyed and transformed, and on their own the stories would get a higher rating from me. Unfortunately they're paired with what is often an excruciatingly pedantic analysis of the history of the writing - and, credit where it's due, that analysis is painstakingly researched and no doubt invaluable for academic work. For the lay reader, however, it can be a bit of a slog.
ksull95's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Super interesting to see the evolution of some of the myths/legends in The Silmarillion. Sometimes hard to follow the various name changes, and definitely more geared toward Tolkien-enthusiasts, but I always love a deeper dive into Middle-Earth.
daringpeg's review against another edition
5.0
Incredible stories and folk tales of Middle Earth. The stories within are in-depth and add to the history of Tolkien's world. They give reasons behind various names and the start of countries.
gsk's review
challenging
informative
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A