Medieval & Fantasy Minecraft Roleplaying

Greetings Explorer, Navigate into the Lobby!

Register a free account today to become a member! Once signed in, you'll be able to participate on this site by adding your own topics and posts, as well as connect with other members through your own private inbox!

Be sure to "Get Whitelisted" to join the community on server!

Lord of the Rings

Menel

Carpet Monkey
(If you are thinking now "Wow, I love LotR, the film was great!" then please go into the shame corner and think about your actions. I might agree about the films being realy good but this is the books section :p shame on you!)


Well best comes first i guess? Up to today i haven't found a story to match the wonderfull World Tolkien provided us with. Sure i found other great authors but they always use a very different stile and setting. In the ways of high fantasy he is the true master and was as devoted to his fiction as you can get.

Now a few might disagree or just react indifferent cause the truth is most ppl haven't read LotR but even if one is objective he still rules them all. The depth he created with all the languages, the "gods" and with a world from its beginning until the clash of mere mortals as most of the mysterious creatures already died or left the mortal realms. And one can't say "well how started this?" as you are provided with a full backgroundstorry ;)




Now for those who haven't heard of the storry (that still happens a lot. but beware of the spoiler alarm!):


Bilbo Baggins throws a party for himself and his protégé, Frodo. At the party, Bilbo announces that he is leaving his home to his heir, Frodo. He returns home and is met by his close friend, the wizard Gandalf. Gandalf insists that Bilbo remove the Ring that he has owned since the events of the previous adventure, chronicled in The Hobbit, and give the ring to his young heir. The Ring has special powers, the most obvious of which is to make the wearer invisible. Then Bilbo disappears.
For many years Frodo lives in Bilbo’s home at Bag End. Just like Bilbo, Frodo appears not to he aged. In his fifties, he grows restless. One day Gandalf comes to Frodo and tells him that he is in danger. It seems that the Ring originally belonged to Sauron, the Dark Lord. Sauron wants the Ring back so that he can conquer the world. Sauron is using Gollum, an evil hobbit who also wants the Ring, to find out who has it and where it can be located. Gandalf tells Frodo that the ring is a corrupting power, and that anyone who uses it will ultimately be destroyed by it if they do not part with it. Further, he tells Frodo that the Ring can only be destroyed by tossing it into a volcano at Mount Orodruin. Frodo tries to give the ring to Gandalf, but the wizard tells him that he (Frodo) was chosen to bear the responsibility; it is his fate.
It is decided that Frodo will take the ring to the Crack of Doom in Mount Orodruin. He is to be accompanied by his friends Sam, Merry, and Pippin. As they travel, the Black Riders of Sauron pursue them. The Black Riders are bodiless horsemen who want the Ring. The travelers meet up with Aragorn, a friend of Gandalf, and together they continue their journey with the aid of some new companions.
Gandalf leads the companions through the mines of Moria. Gandalf battles a dreadful spirit and falls into an abyss. Aragorn becomes the leader. After many small battles, the company realizes their task will be very difficult. They meet Lady Galadriel, of the elves, and are given some assistance. Boromir, a representative from Gondor, tries to persuade Frodo to give him the Ring to take to his father and thus defeat their enemies. Frodo refuses and the two men fight. Frodo must use the Ring to escape Boromir. Boromir is instantly sorry he has been overcome by the allure of power. Frodo decides to travel alone, fearful of the consequences of his friends being corrupted. Only faithful Sam is allowed to accompany him.

Boromir is killed and given a hero’s burial; everyone knows he never meant to fight Frodo. They attribute his sudden corruption to the Ring. Orcs attack and Merry and Pippin are taken captive. Aragorn, Gimli and Legolas pursue them, trying to save their companions. The riders of Rohan appear, having been summoned to help. They destroy the orcs near Fangorn forest but cannot find Merry and Pippin. Merry and Pippin have come into the area inhabited by Treebeard the Ent. He is the oldest living thing in the forest. He sustains them and rouses his troops to avenge the hobbits.
Meanwhile, Gandalf has come back from death as Gandalf the White. He approaches Aragorn, Gimli, and Legolas and tells them what has happened to him. He introduces them to King Theoden of Edoras. Together Gandalf and his men join Theoden in fighting the orcs and looking for Merry and Pippin. Along the way they defeat Saruman, who has been causing trouble and impeding Frodo in his quest.
Sam and Frodo are still making their way to the Crack of Doom. Gollum, who still craves the Ring, follows them. They capture Gollum and try to persuade him to forsake his evil and return to his old likable self as the character Smeagol. The three make their way through the forest until they are met by an army from Gondor, led by Faramir (Boromir’s brother).
When Faramir releases them, Gollum leads Sam and Frodo into a trap--the lair of the giant spider Shelob. Frodo is wounded so badly that Sam fears he is dead. Gollum disappears. Sam decides to take the Ring and continue on in order to destroy it and fulfil Frodo’s responsibility. Orcs come along and steal Frodo’s lifeless body. By listening to the orcs, Sam discovers that Frodo is not dead but is merely drugged. He pursues them to save his good friend.
Gandalf and Pippin arrive in Gondor, where they meet Denethor (Boromir and Faramir’s father). Pippin is befriended by Beregond. Aragorn has revealed himself to Sauron and decides to travel ahead through the Paths of the Dead in order to reach Sauron quickly and thereby assist Frodo and Sam. Eowyn, niece of Theoden, begs to be taken along but Aragorn refuses. He goes to the Paths of the Dead and offers the dead peace if they will fulfill their promise to fight against Sauron.
Merry is not allowed to accompany Theoden into battle, but the resourceful young hobbit hitches a ride with a fierce young soldier named Dernhelm.
Theoden, meanwhile, receives an urgent message to help Denethor at Minas Tirith. He refuses to let Merry join him, but Merry is offered a ride by a young rider named Dernhelm. Denethor is displeased with his younger son Faramir for having helped the Ring bearer rather than claiming the Ring for Gondor. He sends his son into battle, and when Faramir is seriously wounded, his repentant father goes mad with grief. He tries to set himself and his son’s body on fire.
The story continues with the ride of the Rohirrim, allies of Gondor. They are attacked by Nazguls. Theoden falls beneath his wounded horse, but the young rider Dernhelm reveals himself as the fir Eowyn and kills the Lord of the Nazguls. Aragorn, meanwhile, rides into Gondor with the help of the forces of the dead and Sauron’s evil minions are defeated.
Gandalf removes Faramir from the funeral pyre, but Denethor sets himself alight and dies. Merry and Pippin are reunited and Aragorn heals Merry, Eowyn and Faramir. The army then moves out to Mordor, where an emissary of Sauron produces Frodo’s cloak and sword saying that if the troops do not withdraw, Frodo will be tortured. Gandalf snatches the objects from him and another war begins. Pippin saves Beregond from a troll, but faints just as the eagles come to their rescue.
Sam rescues Frodo and they make their way toward Mount Doom. Gollum, however, overtakes them and just as Frodo comes to the Cracks of Doom, Gollum obtains the Ring biting off his finger. Gollum is so excited about having the Ring back that he falls into the abyss, carrying the Ring with him. Mount Doom erupts with the force of the destroyed Ring. Sauron is defeated for good.
The eagles rescue Sam and Frodo from the erupting volcano. Faramir woos Eowyn Arwen marries Aragorn. The company then goes to Rohan for Theoden’s funeral, and then Gandalf and the hobbits begin their homeward journey. The meet Saruman, who is unrepentant, then make their way to Rivendell, where they meet Bilbo. After this the hobbits reach the Shire, which has been completely transformed by Saruman and his servants. It is a barren military wasteland. The Shire hobbits manage to regain control and defeat Saruman. They restore the Shire with some help from Lady Galadriel.
The novel ends with Frodo’s retirement. Elrond, Gandalf and Galadriel accompany him and Bilbo to the Grey Havens. Sam, Merry and Pippin return to live a full life in Hobbiton.




I Read the three books when i was 11/12 as my very first real books (before that just novels for children and such) and thus as my first fantasy too after my late grandpa took me with him into the cinema of the first film of the three. I was truly suprised as my grandpa normaly wasn't that a fan of the cinema and as it ended (open ofc, because there are still 2 books/films left) i was so drawn in that i realy wanted to read the books so my grandpa gave me the first one.


But the books greatly differ from the film. Not in means of plot but about how the story is presented. Tolkien wrote it as if he writes tales out of a history book, true storys with just a bit more life in them. This makes it hard for the casual reader to get through the whole series and i don't know many who finished that quest.
Still i realy love it and with a whole of 7 times it is also the story i most reread so if you always thought "i should read the books some time too" then this now would be your moment of glory. do it!
 

cherbert

Revenge is a dish best served cold.
Founder
Retired Staff
As much as I love the films they do have a downside which I hate them for - and thats ruining the books - You now can't read them without all those bloody actors faces and voices jumping around your head.

At least before the films you could use your imagination and be swept off to the far off lands of Middle Earth - the books had a real quality to them.

If you haven't already I would suggest you also check out The Chronicles of Thomas Covenant by Stephen Donaldson. Lets hope they don't make them into a film too! Book One is called Lord Fouls Bane.
 

Menel

Carpet Monkey
Hmm well to be honest there didn't change much in my head. only saruman and frodo won't fit my imaginational chars :D and i think we all agree that the filmfrodo was a pussy while bookfrodo was a badass
 

dracoboy2

Lord of Altera
They are my favourite fantasy books, and favourite films. I can't count how many times I have seen the films (at least 3 times, 1 time extended editions since september).

I read the books after the films, which I suppose is a bad thing in some ways, but a good thing in many other.
 

Menel

Carpet Monkey
i totaly agree. i belive you have read the silmarilion and "new messages from middlearth" too?
 

dracoboy2

Lord of Altera
No, unfortunately, though I aim to read them soon. I know a lot about the world from countless hours spent on the middle earth wiki pages.
 

bowduim400

Legend of Altera
I want to have some uruk armor and then brag with it on school...also that huge cool cleaver and ill be like. ''Whataboutmahknife''
 

spagbog

Lord of Altera
Lord Foul's Bane was a great book, if very dark. Personally I like The Hobbit better than LotR. More lighthearted. And yes, the book and not the movie.
 

Frankieba5

Lord of Altera
I am able to get fully emerged in Middle Earth because I can believe that the events in the books once happened and after you break that reality chain theres no telling what you could do.
 

MRPolo13

The Arbiter of the Gods
Wow, I love LotR, the film was great!

And I read the book too! It's about children being stuck on an island and killing each other right?
 

Anithola

Lord of Altera
I like how earthspawn are cheering for the orcs xD "kill that little hobbit cmon! Aww... buzz killer legolas..."
 

King Oguk

Earthspawn King
I like how earthspawn are cheering for the orcs xD "kill that little hobbit cmon! Aww... buzz killer legolas..."
The hobbit:


Dwarf:"You can do it Dwarf King!"
*Dwarf's king head is ripped off by Huge Orc Warlord guy*
Elves: He'll naw, ain't nobody got time for dat
*Elves flee*
*Guy chops off Orc Warlord arm and he like* : "I don't even care! *Shoves metal replacement on*
Can't stop me...
 

Backstay

Lord of Altera
I never read the books, but watched all the movies straight in a row because I decided to do a marathon of it :p

The movies are quite good though.
 
Top