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: Excellent
Summary: 5 Stars
I got this for my son-in-law who is a Tolken fan. I ordered this from Amazon, but it was damaged. They did replace it. Thanks to them my son-in-law's Christmas was saved and he really likes it. Kudos to Amazon.com.Book Review: Priceless
Summary: 5 Stars
This is one of the most treasured books i own. While, and after reading Tolkien's books, i found it to be a goldmine of information. This is the only atlas you will need. It is definately worth the money.Book Review: great companion
Summary: 5 Stars
Great companion book to one of the best series of all time. I love maps and these really give you some insight into Tolkien's world.Book Review: Fonstad's Atlas as a work of Interpretation and Criticism
Summary: 4 Stars
A few previous reviewers have attempted to sully this product with claims of inaccuracy; one in particular (Mr. Martinez) has stayed on this item's main page for years and is considered helpful by 85% of responders. He rants in two separate reviews and with multiple paragraphs that Fonstad didn't do her homework and that this is overall a "bad" piece of work. Despite these claims staying largely unsubstantiated even after Mr. Martinez's second review (he names a few of these errors in both reviews, but claims there are too many errors to tabulate), many other reviewers have referenced Mr. Martinez's review as if it is authoritative; that, along with the fact that many hundreds of others have clicked the little button that says Mr. Martinez's comments have been helpful to them (indicating perhaps that they have not purchased this book thanks to Mr. Martinez) is what urges me to write this review.
Since I am not a cartographer nor a Tolkien expert I cannot comment on the veracity of Mr. Martinez's claims; his overall picture, however, is so negative that once I had this item (the only one like it on the market currently) I spent some time comparing the book to the Lord of the Rings itself, and used it as a guide on my first complete read-through of The Hobbit since I was a child. I have walked away totally satisfied by Fonstad's book, with only a few minor criticisms. As a Tolkien fan who is working his way through a casual Tolkien survey, I can say that Mr. Martinez's vitriolic critique is totally wrong-headed. His error lies in his presuppositions: 1) that Middle-Earth is a complete and real thing, not something created by a man; he therefore assumes that Middle-Earth is always consistent and requires no interpretive work as regards its geography, and 2) that the only audience for this book is scholarly, and therefore scholarly exactitude is required in marking its worth.
On the first point, Mr. Martinez assumes that there is a "right answer" to the geography of Middle-Earth, and that clearly Fonstad has not got it. Fonstad is sweeping in her scope and level of detail, but she is upfront about her assumptions and guesses, never presenting herself as anyone more than a skilled cartographer trying to make as much sense of this varied world as possible. The amount of time Tolkien spent creating his universe, from the early 1900s to his death, should indicate that HIS errors were unavoidable without major revision. See also The Lord of the Rings: A Reader's Companion for details on Tolkien's mistakes (geographical and otherwise), which do not destroy his work, but nonetheless do exist.
Fonstad's book is in many ways putting pieces together that weren't made to fit, and for this it should not be considered authoritative unless considering the absence of any competing atlases. Certainly someone should make a competing Atlas, but considering the contradictions inherent in Tolkien's works, it would be no more "correct" on many points than Fonstad's (though I'm sure many errors could be removed). It is in this sense that any atlas of Middle-Earth (as any illustration of Middle-Earth) should be considered "interpretive."
As for the second point, Mr. Martinez rates the product as 2 out of 5 stars and says "Tolkien readers need a new cartographical reference. Hopefully, one will come along some day that doesn't look this bad." Here Mr. Martinez is specifically speaking about Tolkien readers, not scholars; he writes his review as if the average or even enthusiastic Tolkien reader could not garner any joy from this book. Fonstad doubtless has made mistakes, especially considering that she published her revision prior to Christopher Tolkien releasing the entire "History of Middle-Earth" series. I noticed one or two general mistakes myself, though nothing that has destroyed my confidence in the general quality of her book; I must again reiterate that Fonstad consistently states where she draws her conclusions from, and therefore the reader is encouraged to test her words against Tolkien's text. Mr. Martinez's time would be better spent listing and compiling these mistakes rather than dissuading readers from consulting the only available Middle-Earth atlas.
Fonstad's book really is a work of criticism, pointing out the grandeur, the consistency, and occasionally the mistakes in Tolkien's work. When shining a light on The Hobbit, Fonstad's book shows us how truly inadequate its geography and timeline is when compared to the Lord of the Rings, where Tolkien was much more consistent. It is immeasurable how valuable Fonstad's book has been for readers like me. This is without mentioning that the scholars Wayne Hammond and Christina Scull reference her work three times in their authoritative The Lord of the Rings: A Reader's Companion.
The best "negative" review on Amazon about this work is by Wade West "Glorfindel" who offers a highly critical four-star review that is qualified by his endorsement to purchase the book. To say it clearly: if you need a LotR map or want help visualizing Tolkien's world, get this book. Like everything else written on Tolkien, it is a start, not an end.
Book Review: Tasty munchies for Tolkien addicts
Summary: 4 Stars
I'm reviewing the 1991 softcover edition which features the same Alan Lee front cover art of Edoras as later versions but is limited to 210 pages. This is a revised edition from the original Allen and Unwin (Tolkien's publishers) 1981 hardcover release.
The work is crammed with every conceivable map of J.R.R. Tolkien's Middle Earth, chiefly extracted from early editions of, and improved from: The Silmarillion, The Hobbit: 70th Anniversary Edition, The Lord of the Rings: 50th Anniversary, One Vol. Edition, and The Histories of Middle Earth, Volumes 1-5.
Accompanying each map series is a scholarly text which captures all manner of Tolkien trivia and minutia, largely in regard to Middle Earth migrations and travels by the Tolien characters and cultures of the various ages. On some of the maps timelines are noted, (for example, regarding Frodo and Company's expedition from The Shire to Rivendell.) Locations of prominent figures (e.g., Tom Bombadil) and various attacks upon travelers (e.g., Weathertop) are duly noted.
I would not begin to question the *accuracy* of any of these maps, (based, of course, upon Tolkien's original work.) Author Karen Wynn Fonstad is a cartographer and she's clearly wholly-informed on the entire body of Middle Earth writings. I did find a number of these maps confusing -- I'm pretty well-read on Tolkien but I do not profess in any sense to be an expert on his literature. I think perhaps that the abbreviated coloring of the maps limited my personal understanding of them. But as a reference book for those reading the various Tolkien works in real time I think they would be quite informative.
The text is hardly what one would call flowing -- it's academic in nature and thus a bit stiff. Again however, this is appropriate to the document. I mention the fact only to alert prospective readers that the author did not intend her work to be an extension of Middle Earth yarns. In Fonstad's introductory comments she points out that about one-third of the maps are wholly new, (developed and drawn by herself.)
It's relevant to note that Fonstad has not limited her fantasy world cartography efforts to the realm of Tolkien. Among others, she has also published The Atlas of Pern and The Forgotten Realms Atlas. And there are later editions of the instant work available, apparently re-revised as the product description lists them as having more pages than this version.
For enthusiasts of Tolkien literature this book is probably indispensible -- count it as a five-star acquisition. For all others, those with more casual interests, check it out at your local public library.