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damascus922's review against another edition
challenging
informative
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
3.0
cat_queen005's review
adventurous
challenging
informative
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
4.0
_bookmoth's review
3.0
I have always wondered for whom The History of Middle-Earth is meant. If you are searching for new material on the myths of Middle-Earth, this is not for you. The History of Middle-Earth is an accumulation of all of J.R.R. Tolkien's notes and ideas in their infant form. It sometimes feels as going through the same thing over and over and over again, and, in fact, it actually is that.
In The Shaping of Middle-Earth you read three different versions of The Silmarillion (and some parts even four to five times, not including the non-translated Anglo-Saxon pieces). So, you read many times how the sons of Fëanor fought their battles, how Turin committed suicide, how Beren got the Silmaril, and how Morgoth triumphs.
It was helpful to read this mainly as an ebook. There are many footnotes and there is additional commentary so you need to go back and forth a lot. The links within the text helped a lot to keep pace. I started reading the full text first and then the commentary, but it seems better to read the commentary after each section.
Interesting and valuable the series is (as we get a better idea on how the myths were formed and which alternative ideas Tolkien had), it still feels lacking. I think it would have been more helpful if Christopher Tolkien wrote an analysis on the development of scenes and characters, for example, how did the Battle of Unnumbered Tears change over time, how did the the character Maidros develop in all the different versions? It is too overwhelming and though there are many footnotes and there is a lot of commentary, you still feel a bit lost. A lack of translations on the Anglo-Saxon pieces was also drawback; you just skim through them, recognizing some pieces.
So, perhaps the The History of Middle-Earth is more like a primer, an encyclopedia on the myths to browse and search for specific information, to write analyses yourself.
In The Shaping of Middle-Earth you read three different versions of The Silmarillion (and some parts even four to five times, not including the non-translated Anglo-Saxon pieces). So, you read many times how the sons of Fëanor fought their battles, how Turin committed suicide, how Beren got the Silmaril, and how Morgoth triumphs.
It was helpful to read this mainly as an ebook. There are many footnotes and there is additional commentary so you need to go back and forth a lot. The links within the text helped a lot to keep pace. I started reading the full text first and then the commentary, but it seems better to read the commentary after each section.
Interesting and valuable the series is (as we get a better idea on how the myths were formed and which alternative ideas Tolkien had), it still feels lacking. I think it would have been more helpful if Christopher Tolkien wrote an analysis on the development of scenes and characters, for example, how did the Battle of Unnumbered Tears change over time, how did the the character Maidros develop in all the different versions? It is too overwhelming and though there are many footnotes and there is a lot of commentary, you still feel a bit lost. A lack of translations on the Anglo-Saxon pieces was also drawback; you just skim through them, recognizing some pieces.
So, perhaps the The History of Middle-Earth is more like a primer, an encyclopedia on the myths to browse and search for specific information, to write analyses yourself.
iamleeg's review
4.0
Well that certainly helped me to understand the Silmarillion. Bonus points for giving me some new Anglo-Saxon texts to read too :)
dorynickel's review
1.0
Want to read 5+ summaries of the same stories that you've already read multiple full versions of? Then this is the book for you! Overall, it's very helpful for filling out the picture of the development of Tolkien's world-building, but the story isn't new and it's written as summary, not prose, so it loses all the charms of the previous books. I did enjoy the end sections of QII, and I thought ABII was an especially helpful bird's eye view of the story. Also, this book has the most interesting maps.
Worth owning, and if you really want the full picture of the development of the legendarium, it's worth a one-time read.
Worth owning, and if you really want the full picture of the development of the legendarium, it's worth a one-time read.
sararene's review against another edition
1.0
Not going to lie, this one felt like a waste of time. There is almost nothing new here that I haven't read already in the previous three volumes. I understand the value of the history of all these changes to Christopher Tolkien during his undertaking of piecing together his father's work, but it does not feel like something that needed to be presented at all.
nonabgo's review
4.0
The Shaping of Middle-Earth takes us - again - at the beginning of things, with Ambarkanta and the earliest versions of Silmarillion and the Annals. It's one more proof of the complexity and the immense work behind Tolkien's mythology, from the exile of the Noldoli until Melkor's overthrow.
At times, the story gets confusing due to the countless name changing, so it's not an easy read. But I would recommend it to the Tolkien geeks who want to keep track of the chronology of the earliest events and the birth of Middle-Earth.
At times, the story gets confusing due to the countless name changing, so it's not an easy read. But I would recommend it to the Tolkien geeks who want to keep track of the chronology of the earliest events and the birth of Middle-Earth.
laraelwing's review
informative
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
4.0
regitzexenia's review against another edition
4.0
Several different stories detailing the creation of Middle-Earth, as usual with Christopher Tolkien's many notes and insights on the manuscripts, how they differ and maybe even why.
This series is so nerdy, I love it.
This series is so nerdy, I love it.