{"id":4703,"date":"2024-06-27T10:18:21","date_gmt":"2024-06-27T17:18:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.alibris.com\/blog\/?p=4703"},"modified":"2024-06-27T10:20:03","modified_gmt":"2024-06-27T17:20:03","slug":"a-beginners-guide-reading-the-lord-of-the-rings-books-in-order","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.alibris.com\/blog\/a-beginners-guide-reading-the-lord-of-the-rings-books-in-order\/","title":{"rendered":"A Beginner’s Guide: Reading The Lord of the Rings Books in Order"},"content":{"rendered":"
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The journey into J.R.R. Tolkien\u2019s Middle-earth saga is not one for the faint of heart. Laying the groundwork for most of the fantasy genre we know in this day and age, The Lord of the Rings <\/em>has a legacy known far and wide for its intricate plotlines, with many famous quotes<\/a> and heartfelt characters that bring the story to life, so it\u2019s no wonder you\u2019re thinking about reading the series.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But where do you start, and how do you go about reading The Lord of the Rings<\/em> books in order? This guide will help you navigate through your literary journey.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Do You Have to Read The Lord of the Rings Books in Order?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Choosing which way to read The Lord of the Rings <\/em>can widely depend on the reader, their age, and how far down the rabbit hole you truly want to go. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

While The Lord of the Rings trilogy specifically consists of three books, when people refer to \u201cThe Lord of the Rings,\u201d they usually mean the trilogy and related books. The epic saga of The Lord of the Rings <\/em>trilogy is only a fraction of Middle-earth\u2019s history that often leaves readers vying for more. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

How Many Lord of the Rings Books Are There?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

With a series that falls into the category of must-read books<\/a>, Tolkien has created a world based on Middle-earth legends that encompass thousands of years and dozens of other works and spin-off stories. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

J.R.R. Tolkien<\/a> published the first volume of The Lord of the Rings <\/em>17 years after The Hobbit. <\/em>For nearly two decades, Tolkien conceived and composed a single storyline across 9,250 pages. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

From there, it was broken down and edited into three volumes for publication: The Fellowship of the Ring, The Two Towers, and The Return of the King<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The additional works of Tolkien were published after his death by his son and consist of side quests and lore entries that expand his fictional world of Middle-earth. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

What Is the Best Reading Order for The Lord of the Rings Books?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

While fans and fanatics widely dispute the best way to read The Lord of the Rings<\/em> series books in order, we recommend starting with The Hobbit.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Hobbit: Or There and Back Again<\/a><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The Hobbit<\/em> is not technically part of The<\/em> Lord of the Rings <\/em>trilogy, but it is Tolkien\u2019s first book in the world of Middle-earth<\/a> and a popular gateway into The<\/em> Lord of the Rings <\/em>series books as the prequel story. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Hobbit <\/em>follows the journey of Bilbo Baggins, the older cousin of the trilogy\u2019s main character, Frodo. As he is sent on an adventure by the wizard Gandalf to help Thorin Oakenshied and the 13 dwarves retrieve the treasure and reclaim their ancestral home from the formidable dragon Smaug. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Through the ups and downs of his travels, we learn the origin story of how Bilbo came into possession of the One Ring, a magical ring that was lost by the Dark Lord Sauron long ago. They come to find that while it turns the wearer invisible, it also causes possessiveness and insanity, an enduring problem of this story.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Hobbit <\/em>lays down all the groundwork for all the great adventures that take place in the beloved trilogy.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n

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The<\/em> <\/em>Lord of the Rings<\/em> books in order starts off with The Fellowship of the Ring, <\/em>as Bilbo Baggins suddenly disappears from his 111th birthday party, leaving his young heir, Frodo Baggins, the One Ring. At the urging of the wizard Gandalf, Frodo begins his quest to bring the ring to the elven stronghold of Rivendell. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

From there, our journey truly starts as nine representatives of different races band together to form the Fellowship of the Ring and adventure to destroy the One Ring in the fires of Mordor to save the world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The treacherous journey across forests, mountains, and rivers tests and endangers the fellowship at every corner. As the perils rise, Frodo faces betrayal and ultimately decides to continue off towards Mordor with only his loyal friend Samwise.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers<\/a><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

In the second volume of The Lord of the Rings, The Two Towers, <\/em>the saga continues with the members of the fellowship divided and primarily split into two parties.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Merry and Pippin are captured by orcs but escape into the foreboding Fangorn Forest, where they meet giant sentient tree-like creatures called Ents. Aragorn, Legolas, and Gimli, when tracking Merry and Pippin, reconnect with a changed wizard, Gandalf, fend off orcs when coming to the aid of Rrohan\u2019s struggling people, and confront the corrupted wizard Saruman. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Frodo and Sam remain on their perilous quest to Mordor and form an uneasy alliance with the wretched Gollum, who promises to guide them to their destination, all while plotting how to steal the ring.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Through treacherous twists and turns, the journey leaves us on a cliffhanger with the shadow of Sauron growing across the land as armies everywhere prepare themselves for battle. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King<\/a><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

In the final volume of one of the most epic folklore and mythology<\/a> tales, The Return of the King, <\/em>we reach the conclusion of our journey, learn the fates of each of our beloved characters, and sadly bid them goodbye as Frodo\u2019s quest reaches its end.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As Sam and Frodo see their mission through to Mordor, Frodo dangerously falls under the sway of the ring\u2019s dark magic. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Aragon and his forces stage a last stand at the Black Gate of Mordor. Pressuring Frodo to overcome the ring\u2019s powers and make the ultimate choice to destroy the ring once and for all.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Following the climax in the novel, the hobbits are forced to face one final challenge as the Shire is left still in the thralls of the evil Saruman. Merry and Pippin lead an uprising of hobbits against Saruman and free the Shire. Peace and harmony settle over Middle-earth, and the Shire begins to heal. But Frodo doesn\u2019t, as he is plagued by the physical and psychological toll of the ring.<\/p>\n\n\n

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The novel concludes with Frodo, along with Bilbo Baggins and the Keepers of the Three Rings, departing for the Undying Lands to find healing and peace. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you\u2019ve seen the movie, you\u2019ll know that it concludes a bit differently, as with many book-to-movie adaptations<\/a>. The movie ends with Aragon rising to his destiny as King of Gondor, peace reining over the lands, and the hobbits are happily welcomed home.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Reading Order for Supplementary Books<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

There is no official reading order to the additional works of Tolkien such as, The Silmarillion, Unfinished Tales of Numenor & Middle-Earth, The Children of H\u00farin, Beren and L\u00fathien, The Fall of Gondolin, <\/em>and The Fall of N\u00famenor<\/em>, as they are collections of side stories and lore entries connected to the The Lord of the Rings<\/em> trilogy that expand upon the world of Middle-earth. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, if you want to get the most context of the world before diving into all these, The Silmarillion <\/em>may be a good place to start since it goes back to the very beginning of Middle-earth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What Is the Reading Order of The Lord of the Rings Books Based on Release Date?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

One of the easiest ways to read The Lord of the Rings in order books <\/strong>is by their release date.<\/p>\n\n\n\n