The Atlas of Middle-Earth (Revised Edition) by Karen Wynn Fonstad
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Book Reviews of The Atlas of Middle-Earth (Revised Edition)
Book Review: Enriching Your Middle Earth Experience
Summary: 5 Stars
The last time I re-read LORD OF THE RINGS I kept this book beside me. Every time Frodo's or Aragorn's journey changed I referred to the maps in Fonstad's book. I understood Tolkien's geography so much better that way. And I got a better understanding of distances and travel time (how far *is* Isengard from Rohan??). The maps are detailed, yet easy to read. Fonstad's text is enlightening as well. Not only are geographical maps included, but also architectural maps: Bag End, Rivendell, and more! For the Tolkien aficionado, Fonstad has mapped the Silmarillion and for the Tolkien neophyte she's included maps that accompany The Hobbit. A timeline of RINGS is included as well - very helpful since Tolkien, unlike Peter Jackson's movie, does not "intercut" between Frodo and Aragorn's stories, but instead spends many chapters with each.Why is this book better than the maps that Tolkien drew himself for the books? Because Fonstad traces the complete journey in several maps that show topography and routes taken.
I highly recommend trying to read Tolkien's books with Fonstad's maps close by for reference.
Book Review: AMAZING book!!!
Summary: 5 Stars
omg~for any tolkien fan out there, this is a must have! Especially for anyone who is fascinated with the maps already included in the Hobbit, LOTR, and the Silmarillion.
Extensive maps (all based on Tolkien's writings, maps, and illustrations) - for everything from the Spring of Arda and Valinor to the Battle of Helm's Deep. There are maps following everystep of LOTR and the Hobbit - plus a large section on Beleriand and the 1st age~which makes it an indespensible companion to the Silmarillion.
There are a few grey areas here and there - there are bound to be in a world so complex as Tolkien's - which leaves some things to the interpretation and imagination of the reader. I think that's good. (Dr?) Fonstad is wise to leave out those things that are truly dubious, but is intuitive and brilliant in the way she interprets the world of Tolkien. She points out the process she used to come to the conclusions that in the book, which is very helpful.
All in all-this gets 5 1/2 stars-you gotta get this if you like any of Tolkien's works.
Book Review: One of the best sources for information on LOTR
Summary: 5 Stars
This atlas is well worth the money. The book covers all of the LOTR series. It first goes into the layout of Middle Earth with respects of what type of rock for each areas. Valinor is covered, as well as Beleriand. Then, the battles are covered from the Silmarillion, The Hobbit, and the LOTR. Many illustrations are in the book, including the Tower of Cirith Ingol, Ederas, and Minas Tirith. Then the author has painstakingly taken the pathways of the Nine Walkers, from Bag End to Mount Doom. This includes dates, times, miles traveled, campsites on the map, ect. The author then goes into landforms - how the continents in Middle Earth could have been formed, the languages used, and the climates of Middle Earth.
This book is invaluble for the true Tolkien Fan since Middle Earth is well discribed and the paths travelled by the Nine Walkers is shown out day by day.
Combine this book with the Maps of Middle Earth, and the Lord of the Rings A Reader's Companion, and your knowledge of Middle Earth will make a wizard jealous.
Book Review: Lost in Middle-earth?
Summary: 5 Stars
Karen Wynn Fonstad (a noted cartographer) fills close to two-hundred pages with hundreds of two-color maps. This is a must have companion to the Silmarillion, The Hobbit, and The Lord of the Rings. The amount of detail is astounding. Especially since the films did not exist at the point in time that this book was published. Which means she has studied these books in-depth to accurately catalog the battles, climate, vegetation, architecture and languages. The atlas also covers those three books individually and the three ages of Middle-earth, along with an accurate timeline.
The book is presented very well, and you have to appreciate the attention to detail. If you own any of the previously mentioned books, and ever find yourself not quite certain of a particular characters location, or how many hours Frodo rode a pony on October 7th,3018, this is the definitive guide. This is a must own, especially if you are a fan of the novel more than the films. I highly recommend it.
Book Review: Man, what an awesome book!
Summary: 5 Stars
Then I first heard that JRR Tolkien prided himself in his attention to specific details, I was somewhat skeptical. When I found out that Tokien had drawn his own map of Middle-Earth, I realized that the man was an obsessed freak (but in a good way). The Atlas of Middle-Earth does live up to it's title as an atlas, providing the proper distance scales, descriptions, and directions (Tolkien had even developed unique symbols for north, south, east, and west). Every place mentioned in Tolkien's works is wonderfully explored in this book. From the plains of Mordor to the halls of Bag End. Even the city of Minas Tirith and the volcano Mount Doom are examined. Fans of The Silmarillion will delight in the maps of Valinor. There are even maps tracking the paths of the journeys in The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings. This book is an excellent addition to the library of anyone who admires and loves the works of JRR Tolkien.