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Tales from the Perilous Realm by J.R.R. Tolkien

4.01 AVERAGE

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ceallaighsbooks's review against another edition

5.0
adventurous challenging emotional funny hopeful informative inspiring lighthearted mysterious reflective relaxing sad fast-paced
Loveable characters: Yes
Diverse cast of characters: No
“FAERIE is a perilous land, and in it are pitfalls for the unwary and dungeons for the overbold... The realm of fairy-story is wide and deep and high and filled with many things: all manner of beasts and birds are found there; shoreless seas and stars uncounted; beauty that is an enchantment, and an ever-present peril; both joy and sorrow as sharp as swords. In that realm a man may, perhaps, count himself fortunate to have wandered, but its very richness and strangeness tie the tongue of a traveller who would report them. And while he is there it is dangerous for him to ask too many questions, lest the gates should be shut and the keys be lost.” 
 
author: JRR Tolkien 
audiobook narrator: Derek Jacobi 
published: 1997 
publisher: HarperCollins 
 
genre: fantasy stories & poems for children & adults 
setting: our world, Middle-earth, & Faërie, & all the places in-between (the moon, the mer-kingdom, the Little Kingdom, the Middle Kingdom &c.) 
 
main themes/subjects: 
  • Roverandom: an enchanted toy dog, adventures, wizards & dragons, the Moon, the valley of Happy Dreams, seagulls & spiders, mythology, Uin the oldest of the Right Whales, kingdom of the mer-folk, English beachside town, family & childhood, industrialisation & environmental destruction
  • Farmer Giles: a comic medieval fable / children’s fantasy / mock charter myth / a local legend featuring a brave farmer & his cowardly dog & his determined mare, a comic & light-hearted narrative voice, mock etymologies of actual place-names, a silly giant, an inconvenienced dragon, a selfish king, a vindictive miller, a morose blacksmith, & a bunch of useless knights
  • The Adventures of Tom Bombadil: the Man in the Moon, elves, trolls, talking animals, spooky supernatural creatures (barrow-wights, mewlips, etc.), Tom Bombadil, fae English country & forest imagery, interesting meters & rhyme schemes, wandering, madness, shadows, water-worlds, embodied nature, comic animal fables, nursery tales, bestiary lore, nonsense rhymes, fairy poems
  • Smith of Wootton Major: village life, the magic of Faery, mid-winer festival, childhood, the imagination, respect for Faery, the relationship bw magic & cooking, inheritance by spirit rather than blood, travels & traveling, Fae in disguise among humans, beautiful descriptions of Faeryland, lots of thematic & motif echoes from The Lord of the Rings
  • Leaf By Niggle: dreams vs duties, anti-capitalism—how capitalism stifles creativity & demeans art, anti-industrialization, allegory for the artist, art & creativity, symbolism of the Tree / Forest / Mountains & painting / the Workhouses / the Voices / the shepherd, collaboration & inspiration, friendship & community, the tendency to introversion of the artist, death, gardening
  • On Fairy-Stories: the Perilous Realm = the Land of Faërie, fairy-tales, history of fairy-tales, fairy-tales vs myth / fantasy, history & language, on fantasy as “escapism”, Sub-creation, folklorists, Victorian fairy stories

CW // environmental destruction, some stressful situations with dogs, some stressful situations with female characters
 
“…fairy-stories are not in normal English usage stories about fairies or elves, but stories about Fairy, that is Faërie, the realm or state in which fairies have their being. Faërie contains many things besides elves and fays, and besides dwarfs, witches, trolls, giants, or dragons: it holds the seas, the sun, the moon, the sky; and the earth, and all things that are in it: tree and bird, water and stone, wine and bread, and ourselves, mortal men, when we are enchanted… Most good ‘fairy-stories’ are about the aventures of men in the Perilous Realm or upon its shadowy marches.”
 
my thoughts:
I’d read all of these stories before but ages & ages ago, so to revisit them now, in my late-30’s, with a group of Tolkien lovers & readers as wonderful as the Fellowship of the Readers group (now the Deep Roots Bookclub) was the perfect end to two years of deep-diving into the Professor’s greatest tales.

There is so much to love on their own in these tales from flights (literally) of fancy (also, literally) to wholesome storylines, relatable characters, the themes of childhood & aging, grief & longing, creation & curiosity, friendship & love, & everything that makes the human experience so much more than can be explored merely in our “Primary World.”

In the Appendix, which contains Tolkien’s 1947 lecture, ‘On Fairy-Stories’, all the threads of the stories in his collection as well as the parts & pieces from his greater works from The Lord of the Rings to The Silmarillion & through all his Great Tales, we get more of his personal opinions, takes, & interpretations of the genre & history of “Fairy-Stories” as well as some extremely clever (& yes, sassy <3) rebuttals to claims re: things like fairies, fairy stories, the genre of fantasy, & even some of Tolkien’s own writing. It’s a bit dense but well worth the effort. (See more of my notes & annotations for this lecture as well as my full review for each story in their individual posts on my blog.)
 
“I read some of the stories in this volume for the first time just a few months ago, and regretted that I hadn't had it to hand when my children were expecting bedtime stories every evening.” — from Alan Lee’s Afterword
 
i would recommend this book to readers who appreciate whimsical, wholesome, hilarious, & heart-breaking stories from the Perilous Realm—especially readers with children (though these stories are just as rewarding for adults). this book is best read aloud, especially with children.

final note: If you have always been curious about Tolkien or are looking for a good reason to revisit his works, I highly recommend joining us (the Deep Roots Bookclub) for our slow re-read of The Silmarillion which starts this week!
 
“…for there is no true end to any fairy-tale… The verbal ending - usually held to be as typical of the end of fairy-stories as ‘once upon a time' is of the beginning - ‘and they lived happily ever after' is an artificial device. It does not deceive anybody. End-phrases of this kind are to be compared to the margins and frames of pictures, and are no more to be thought of as the real end of any particular fragment of the seamless Web of Story than the frame is of the visionary scene, or the casement of the Outer World.”
 
season: Autumn or Spring, also Midwinter
music pairing: English folk music

further reading: 
 
Tolkien’s bookshelf— 

Click on the star ratings beside the titles I’ve read to read my reviews/thoughts about the book.

I earn commissions from the sponsored links to my shop on bookshop.org which allow me to keep the majority of my content like Book Reviews & Reading Lists free to all subscribers. <3

Check out my review on StopAndSmellTheBooks.com for more!

julia_zbeth's review against another edition

3.0
I listened to this with the kids on a car trip and it was ok. It was done as a live performance then read as a book which was not as enjoyable for me. The stories weren't Tolkien's best stories, but they were interesting to listen to overall.

alanaellsworth's review against another edition

5.0
Tales from the Perilous Realm is a compilation of five of Tolkien's most celebrated short works, and every one of them was uniquely enchanting as well dryly humorous. I have never read anything except for the grand-scale tales from Middle Earth by Tolkien, and this experience didn't disappoint.

Roverandom
The volume begins with Tolkien's novella, written for his children, about a dog who gets turned into a toy after he accidentally bites a wizard's trousers and the adventures that ensue. He eventually takes on the name of "Roverandom" instead of "Rover," as he encounters two other dogs along the way that are each named Rover. This story is hilarious as well as extremely well written. One of my favorite parts was the introduction of the sand-sorcerer (not to be confused with the wizard), Psamathos Psamathides. A smug bloke whose ears poke out of the sand like sticks if not observed closely, he sets Roverandom off on his journey, after Roverandom hops down the stairs in toy-dog form and visits the seaside. Many other characters are introduced, every one as entertaining as the last. The wizard, Artaxerxes, ends up marrying a mermaid and forgetting how to turn Roverandom back into a normal dog. Eventually, though, he ends up becoming a real dog and finding a boy owner. This fairy-tale novella could be as thoroughly enjoyed by children and adults alike.

Farmer Giles of Ham
I believe I've read this short story before in another volume, but I completely underappreciated its humor the first time, even if I still appreciated the story. Farmer Giles is a rather overweight, lazy farmer who ends up being an unwilling hero. After defeating a giant with a blunderbuss, he is given a sword for his "valor," named Tailbiter. When time comes for him to actually use Tailbiter against a dragon, the farmer hardly realizes what he's gotten himself into. The irony of Giles' reluctant heroism and the laziness of Chrysophylax (the dragon), combined with the uselessness of the knights of the land make for a most comedic and entertaining story.

The Adventures of Tom Bombadil
"The Adventures of Tom Bombadil" are a collection of poems rather than short stories, although I enjoyed most of them. The first three are about Tom Bombadil himself, which I really enjoyed as I find his character so interesting and mysterious in The Fellowship of the Ring. There are Barrow-Wights as well as the introduction of Goldberry, all written in a completely fairy-tale style. The rest of the poems are good, though not my personal favorites. I did very much like the poem about the hobbit and the troll titled, "The Stone Troll". There are other, more abstract poems about the Man in the Moon, cats and Oliphaunts, three of which already appear in The Lord of the Rings. Overall, the ones about Tom were my favorite and I found absolutely entrancing, but they were all worth a read for those who love Middle Earth.

Smith of Wootton Major
I really loved this one. Beginning in the town of Wootton Major, distinguished from the town of Wootton Minor, it starts with the Feast of Good Children. Nokes, the Master Cook who delegates most of his work to his apprentice only to take the credit for himself, hides various trinkets in his Great Cake, the highlight of the feast. One of these trinkets is revealed to be a star of Faery. A blacksmith's son swallows the star quite by accident, and by it he is able to travel back and forth to Faery. I love stories that openly admit they are a fairy tale by deliberately being in a "fairy" land or imaginary land, and this story fulfilled that. Known in Faery as "Starbrow," the blacksmith's son travels back and forth to Faery most of his life, even after he becomes a blacksmith himself. He has many adventures in Faery, eventually meeting the King and Queen. At the end, the now-blacksmith surrenders the star to Nokes' apprentice, deciding it be best another child have use of the star. Everything about this story, the characters and the setting of Faery, was enchanting and delightful to read.

Leaf by Niggle
Possibly my favorite story, although it's hard to contend with any of them. Niggle is one of the most endearing characters who only wants to paint in a world that does not value art. His one small mistake of not helping his neighbor when he should have has some temporary consequences, only to be followed by a life better than he could've dreamed. Niggle's neighbor, Parish, is always asking him to help him repair his house as Parish has a lame leg and a sick wife. Niggle, regretfully but amiably leaves his artistic creation of a tree full of complexly painted leaves to help Parish. He gets a cold by running errands for Parish in the rain, which aggravates him further. Niggle also has a great trip he knows he has to take in the back of his mind, and during the story has to take it. After fulfilling his menial duties and completing his trip, he cannot return to his real home, but instead reunites with his neighbor in a perfect version of what his vision for his tree-painting was, not the flawed version he kept wanting to return to. This story was so original and so well told. Niggle as a character is so beautiful in his creating of art, but also reluctant willingness to run errands for his neighbor that he would have normal begrudgingly done. Tolkien highlights the importance of art and creation, as well as redeems all Niggle's time spent on his art at the end.

Tolkien has an excellent talent for making stories full of themes entertaining, but without making them overtly "moral," to where a child will not read them because it's intended only to teach a lesson. He blends "faerie," humor, and truths about life splendidly in every one of his works, making them a delight to read for children and adults alike.
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scottlukaswilliams's review against another edition

4.0
Leaf by Niggle and Smith of Wootton Major were already favourites of mine. Roverandom, I had not read before, and I will be sure to return to it.

draybikus's review against another edition

5.0
If you miss Tolkien and want to understand what fairy tales are in the view of the father of Middle-earth, I highly recommend this book. There are five stories in this collection, completely different in temperament and style (one is even in verse), so I think everyone will find something to their liking.

The main characters in these tales are ordinary people (and a dog) who encounter the magical world of Faerie. Some of these encounters bring joy, wealth, and inspiration, while others - misadventures and other worries. One thing is constant: the heroes always honourably endure the ordeal and in the end, are not the same as before.

I would especially like to single out The Leaf by Niggle. It is a beautiful allegory of the creator and their work, and, as researchers say, a reflection of Tolkien's own working method: just as Niggle adds more and more leaves and branches to his Tree, so Tolkien built the universe of Middle-Earth layer by layer.

And I can't help but draw your attention to the charming Roverandom - the story of a dog turned into a toy by an irritated wizard. A fascinating plot and off-the-charts cuteness guaranteed :) If the other tales in the collection are designed for a more mature and understanding reader, then this one is great for kids.

alexryan3's review against another edition

3.5
adventurous lighthearted relaxing medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven: A mix
Strong character development: Complicated
Loveable characters: Complicated
Diverse cast of characters: Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus: Complicated
A lovely little collection of short stories.
A pleasant read
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missbrookss's review against another edition

4.0
adventurous funny hopeful lighthearted medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven: Character
Strong character development: Yes
Loveable characters: Yes
Diverse cast of characters: Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes
nomad_reader's profile picture

nomad_reader's review against another edition

3.25
adventurous lighthearted medium-paced
Loveable characters: Yes
Diverse cast of characters: No
Flaws of characters a main focus: Complicated

sarahbc93_'s review

4.0
I actually really enjoyed these short stories from one of my favourite authors. Someone had previously told me that they were “quite primitive compared with Tolkien’s other work” but that’s what I quite liked about them.

I didn’t want short stories about Middle Earth and the One Ring or elves and dwarves. I wanted something different and that’s what I got. Even though there were flourishes of Tolkien’s signature pieces, these stories stand alone perfectly well.

And they are short stories. Some only a couple of chapters long, and that’s what makes them wonderful. They are short enough to be read in one sitting, but they are also long enough to feel complete.
tinuviel's profile picture

tinuviel's review against another edition

5.0
adventurous lighthearted medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven: A mix
Strong character development: Yes
Loveable characters: Yes
Diverse cast of characters: Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes