Not many people know our very first sale at Book Hero was an illustrated copy of The Hobbit. Somebody walked in off the street looking for a present for a birthday party, and that was the book they went home with (no encouragement from me needed). We hadn't even opened yet!
I've always liked that… Of all the books we could have sold first, it was The Hobbit.
Like many people I read it when I was very young, and I've been a Tolkien fan ever since. It also started my love of the fantasy genre in general. I’ve reread The Lord of the Rings every few years and have watched the movies so many times I’ve lost count. I’ve also watched them, I think, on every format… VHS, DVD, Blu-Ray, Cinema, on a projector... I’m not sure that’s an achievement but it does reflect my dedication to those movies!
The books are also very special to me. There are so many other books sitting on my shelf and on my wishlist that I still haven't got around to, but somehow there's always time to read Tolkien again.
So yes, there's probably an argument for there being a bit of personal interest behind how much Lord of the Rings related things we stock at Book Hero now. The range has grown from the books into games, puzzles, notebooks and all sorts of other cool products. I thought I'd share some of them, including two new books about the people who made the films.
Still going back to Middle-Earth
I think that we often return to books, shows or movies because of the way they make us feel. Perhaps they are connected to a positive memory or happy time in our lives. For me rewatching and rereading The Lord of the Rings is something I do because it is an escape. It’s time away from this world and in a fantastic world that’s full of triumph and disaster and a reminder that there’s some good in this world, and it's worth fighting for…
And also because both the books and the films are just masterpieces. Every time I return I appreciate just how good they are. The films are a big part of it too, especially living here in New Zealand. I find it hard to separate some of the places in the books from the way they look in the movies now. I’ve also travelled to many of the locations where they did the filming. If you’re a fan I highly recommend this, New Zealand is an incredible country to explore even without an appreciation for the films. And if you wish to take the ring, even though you do not know the way, these books will be helpful:
Alastair and I doing the first Hobbiton Halfling Marathon and Mt Edoras in all it's glory (just missing some buildings)
Behind the Scenes of Middle-Earth
If you’ve spent almost as long watching the extras or the director commentary as the films themselves, these two new books are worth a look! Andy Serkis tells his story in My Pressures, including his time as Gollum, while Sam Moore’s There and Back Again brings together stories from almost 100 cast and crew members who helped bring The Lord of the Rings to the screen.
My Pressures by Andy Serkis
Great title... get it? My Pressures: The Bizarrely True Story of Andy Serkis is his memoir, covering his childhood between Ruislip and Baghdad, getting into acting, and the roles most of us know him for. Gollum is the obvious one for me, but there's also Planet of the Apes, Star Wars and plenty more.
He brings some of his characters into the telling of his own life, imagining what they'd have to say about him. I'm curious to see how that works, particularly with Gollum involved.
When you're watching the films, it's easy to forget there's a person behind all of Gollum's movements and expressions, as well as that voice. This is on my list to read!
There and Back Again: The Unofficial Oral History of The Lord of the Rings Films brings together interviews with almost 100 cast and crew members. Elijah Wood, Ian McKellen, Orlando Bloom, John Rhys-Davies and Andy Serkis are among them, along with people working on the writing, design and technical side.
I like that it includes people from across the production. The actors will have their stories, but so will the people making the sets and figuring out the effects. There must have been so much going on that no one person could have seen all of it.
It's also tied to the 25th anniversary of The Fellowship of the Ring. Twenty-five years!
The books themselves...
Whether you’re reading The Hobbit for the first time or heading back through The Lord of the Rings again, there’s something about having an edition you’ll keep for years. I'm not ashamed to say I have three different special, illustrated editions of The Lord of The Rings.
And if you've never read these books we’ve got everything from paperbacks to illustrated hardbacks and boxed sets, including artwork by Alan Lee and Tolkien himself. A good place to start or to find a gift, or an extra copy you can enjoy having on your shelf!
“All that is gold does not glitter, Not all those who wander are lost; The old that is strong does not wither, Deep roots are not reached by the frost. From the ashes a fire shall be woken, A light from the shadows shall spring; Renewed shall be blade that was broken, The crownless again shall be king.”
The Hobbit
If you've seen the films but haven't read any Tolkien, I'd start with The Hobbit. It's shorter, it's funny, and you get to spend time with Bilbo before everything becomes too serious. It was my first Tolkien book and it's still the one I'd give someone starting out!
We have some good value paperback versions as well as the Classic Hardback, or The Hobbit & The Lord of the Rings Boxed Set if you want all four books together.
The Alan Lee illustrated boxed set is one I'd look at for a special birthday or Christmas present. It includes The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings, with his watercolours throughout. I really like his imagining of Middle-earth.
There's also The Hobbit illustrated by Tolkien himself, which includes more than 50 sketches, drawings, paintings and maps. After seeing so many other people's versions of these places, it's interesting to go back and see how Tolkien pictured them.
There are also some extremely high-end, quality illustrated editions that I may or may not have added here, which may or may not already be in my house.
These illustrated versions by Jemma Catlin are also stunning, and this was the version that was the first book we ever sold at Book Hero!
The Lord of the Rings
I reread The Lord of the Rings every few years, so I've accumulated a few editions. If you’re choosing your first copy, or looking for a special edition to keep, here are a few worth a look.
The edition illustrated by Tolkien himself puts the complete story into one hardback, with thirty colour illustrations, maps and sketches by Tolkien. I like the idea of seeing Middle-earth as he pictured it while he was writing. The two fold-out maps are a good excuse to stop and work out exactly where everyone is. I may also have this one on my shelf...
We of course have the chunky paperback for either the first read or a lighter reading copy to take with you on holiday. There's the hardback boxed set with A Reader’s Companion. This is one for anyone who likes getting into the details! You get The Fellowship of the Ring, The Two Towers and The Return of the King as separate hardbacks, plus a fourth volume to help you explore the text. The covers use Tolkien’s original unused dust-jacket designs, which is a great addition.
I've also included a number of beautiful hardback editions, including the deluxe Alan Lee illustrated set which really is the special-occasion option. Three hardback volumes in a slipcase, with his paintings and drawings throughout, plus art cards and fold-out maps.
If you want to read more Tolkien
The Silmarillion is the obvious next book to talk about. It's the earlier history of Tolkien's world, and it explains a lot of the names and events that get mentioned in The Lord of the Rings.
It's a different sort of read, though. There's a lot to keep track of, and I wouldn't hand it to someone expecting the same kind of story. It's more like a history book. But if you finish the trilogy wanting to know more about the world, there's plenty here!
Then there's The Complete History of Middle-earth. This collects the twelve books edited by Christopher Tolkien into three volumes, looking at his father's drafts and how the stories developed. A fairly serious reading project for someone who wants to get into all of it.
For the artwork, we have The Art of The Lord of the Rings, with Tolkien's own drawings, paintings, sketches and maps, and The Hobbit Sketchbook by Alan Lee. These are worth a look if you enjoy studying the illustrations as much as reading the story.
Tolkien Games, Puzzles & More!
Something I have been far too excited about is all the extra LOTR products we've been bringing in stock! We have so many awesome games, puzzles, stationery, and there is more around the corner...!
“Still round the corner there may wait. A new road or a secret gate. And though I oft have passed them by. A day will come at last when I. Shall take the hidden paths that run. West of the Moon, East of the Sun.”
A few games to have a look at...
There's a surprising amount of variety in the Lord of the Rings games. You can play against each other in Duel for Middle-earth, work together to save the day in Fate of the Fellowship, or settle in for a longer adventure with Journeys in Middle-earth. There are smaller card games too, including a cooperative trick-taking game that follows the Fellowship's journey, and Spot It! for something quick with the family. If you know someone who can quote half the films, Who Says? should give them a chance to put that to use.
Puzzles, if that's more your thing
Putting one of the films on and doing a puzzle sounds like a pretty good evening. We've got 1,000-piece designs from Ravensburger, Clementoni and theory11, including a wide panorama and artwork based on the theory11 playing cards. The 2,000-piece Ravensburger puzzles give you a bit more to get stuck into, with scenes and characters from the films. They're also handy gifts for Tolkien fans when you're not sure which books they already own. Just check they've got enough table space!
Don't forget the stationery!
If you like a nice notebook, there's quite a bit to tempt you here. Moleskine's Lord of the Rings range includes a Frodo and Sam notebook, a Merry and Pippin diary for 2027, a Kaweco pen with the One Ring set into its cap, and a set of Blackwing pencils. There are smaller things too, like metal bookmarks and Paperblanks washi tape for journals. A bookmark tucked into a new book makes a nice present, although I can see how you might end up keeping the notebook for yourself.
Come and have a look!
We've ended up with quite an awesome range of The Lord of the Rings and expect more in the future! There's lots in stock here ion our warehouse too, and you can browse online or come and see us seven days a week!
Whether you're buying for yourself or looking for a birthday/Christmas present, hopefully there's something here that helps. An illustrated Hobbit worked out pretty well for our first customer.
