This is simply the most stunning work of fantasy fiction the world has to offer. If you have just seen the movie, you have really only seen a tenth of what is going on. I highly recommend this suburb novel, and if you read it, you will not be sorry.

I first read this when I was 11 years old; my dad gave me the three books in hardcover, and I devoured them. I studied the maps, traced their journey, mapped the Lonely Mountain (I'd read the Hobbit a few years earlier) against Gondor, etc. I adored the appendices, because I always want to know what happened after "the end." I've read the books at least a dozen times since then, and every time I come away with a new favorite bit. If you watched the movies of Peter Jackson before reading this, you may find the text a little dry and the pacing slow. Case in point: the Council of Elrond chapter is a study in infodump overload ;) and all of the spectacle of Helm's Deep fit into one chapter (technically, a few paragraphs in the chapter). Don't be put off! Work at it, because the book will reward you with deeper understanding of the greater story, and fill in some blanks. And don't feel bad if you like the changes they made in the movie better than the book. They're completely different mediums and can exist peaceably their individual perfection. Just make sure you actually READ the book before making your decision! =)

All fantasy writers should aspire to Tolkien, TLOTR is the greatest fantasy book ever written.(And I believe it always will be).~Tarik

This BBC Radio production of the LotR is not too bad, but the books themselves are so much better than this radio production was.

This is an amazing book that everyone should take the time to read.

Tolkein often said that he "rediscovered Middle Earth", and I believe him. This book is more than just a piece of literature; it is its own world, filled with heroes and villians, magic and mystery, love and cruelty. I have read the books six times, seen the movies (extended version) more times than I can count, and have inhaled the story every time. Tolkein began writing this epic masterpiece in the trenches of WW I. It amazes me how, in the midst of such horrors, Tolkein could bring to life such a world that it seems so real. In a time when fantasy was very nearly nonexistent, Tolkein reshaped, redefined, and rediscovered the genre of fantasy. This book is so indepth, so suspenseful, and so beautifully written that it is like taking the adventure again for the first time. I gather something new every time I read this story. I can honestly say that because of Tolkein, I learned to create stories, and to eventually write them. Our world owes so much to Tolkein. This is a book worth reading over and over again. And again. And again. :)

awesome book!

is this the first book in this series? or is it the hobbit?

I read this series for the first time as an adult and I wish I could read it for the first time again and again. This series takes you to another place...its amazing.

The Lord of The Rings really was an excellent read. This has to be the base of true fantasy-fiction. A timeless classic, although at times a tad boring.