REQUEST: Long time Tolkien fan, just rediscovered and reread LOTR and now rereading the Silmarillion, but one thing that has ALWAYS confused me is the geography of Arda. How it looked during the years of the lamps, how it looked during the years of the trees, the the ages of the sun, but most importantly the details of the process of change between those ages. I would be so grateful if you could do a video explaining what Arda, the entire world, looked in each period and detail the processes that created those changes. I've asked nearly every Tolkien channel I subscribe to but nothing yet.
I would look into getting The Atlas of Middle Earth by Karen Wynn Fonstad. It has many different maps from the many ages of Arda and explains how they changed over time, among many other things.
no to say that "in an ideal world this would have been part of the history of middle earth" is a wrong statement, unfinished tales is as strong of canon as the published silmarillion, the history of middle earth isnt! also unfinished tales is basically a collection of short stories and extended background lore, and i love it! it has a feeling of a grimoire compiled by a wizard who found long forgotten texts
This book is not laminated on dust jacket. Dust jacket ruined with even a little moisture or sweat. In their infinite wisdom they have laminated the back, but not the art side of dust jacket. You will not be able to have it delivered without a damaged dust jacket.
Hi, lots of thanks for your great videos :) ! These non-glossy covers are beautiful. We now have Unfinished Tales, Hobbits & Lord of the Rings Set & Fall of Gondolin using these covers. A shame Beren & Luthien & Children of Hurin are still only available in ugly glossy format :( ! Not to mention the Silmarilion which seems to be completely forgotten overall.
May I ask where did you usually buy your Tolkien books and deluxe/special editions? I’m asking as I don’t usually like to but things from unknown websites,
Do you think that the illustrated version of Children of Hurin, Beren & Luthien and Fall of Gondolin are in the same series as this one and the latest Hobbit + LOTR books? I'm thinking of buying them but I would be bummed if it turns out that they are releasing a new version of them lol
In answer to the age-old question "Emma Chisett" (said to have been asked by an Australian lady book-buyer when the author asked her for her name at a book-signing) the answer is GBP 22.19 or so. Which is pretty reasonable against my 1980 second reprint, GBP 7.50 as per sticker. EDIT: It's gone up, I swear because of my original posting
Hi there, I have another question: I'm assuming the new copies of this are supposed to come sealed in a plastic wrap, is that right? I'm asking because mine arrived without one, and the dust sleeve is a little worn as a result. Nothing major, but also nothing I'd expect from a proper fresh copy - if they're supposed to be sealed, that would indicate to me that it might be a returned copy, not a new one...
Ordered mine yesterday from Amazon Warehouse Deals for only 7.55 € in very good condition (there are more in acceptable or good condition available). As the descriptions made by Amazon are often some kind of Russian roulette I'm not sure what to expect when it will arrive on Saturday (in the description it's stated that online codes might be missing or expired 😂). There's supposedly some damage to the dust jacket, hopefully it's not that bad. But fot this price I could live with it, I guess.
I had a giant some-anniversary-or-other deluxe edition of LotR as a kid. It featured nice, matte pages for the text and beautiful glossy Alan Lee plates. Took it to school and managed to drop it during reading time, severely damaging the spine. I don't know what became of it after that (I can't find it, and I've looked), but I haven't seen a nicer edition offered since. As an adult, I find myself yearning for beautiful editions of all the Tolkien books, and publishers keep dropping the ball. This one has gorgeous, glossy illustrations, but ALL the pages are glossy, making reading challenging. That one has sensible matte pages for the text, but now the illustrations are matte as well, not as faithfully reproduced, and dull. This other one has matte illustrations, but there are more of them, which is obviously better... right? Sigh. Just give me back by Lee LotR and make every other Tolkien book in the same way. Oh, and include a slipcover. Is that so much to ask?
Appreciate your videos! I live in the US and am looking to purchase a new copy of The Nature of Middle Earth. Your videos dive into overall product quality, which is important to me as well. Do you have a preference for purchasing books from Harper Collins or Mariner publishing company? Is the quality the same between them? I noticed Amazon was selling hardcover copies of The Fall of Gondolin with shinny covers, which I am trying to avoid. Appreciate any insight you can share.
I Hope HarperCollins is paying attention: Please put out a matching edition of The Silmarillion next year (illustrated by Ted Nasmith). In terms of the images to be selected, I nominate the ones that have appeared in the 2008 paperback, which is about 16: ~ The Sea ~ The Light of the Valinor on the Western Sea ~ Fingolfin Leads the host Across the Helcaraxre ~ The Burning of the Ships ~ The Gates of Sirion ~ The Orc-Host is Ambushed in Brethil ~ By Moonlight in Neldoreth Forest ~ Luthien Escapes Upon Huan ~ The Hill of Slain ~ Turin and his band are led to Amon Rudh ~ Turin Reaches the Abandoned Homestead ~ Up the Rainy stair ~ Tuor Follows the swans to Vinyamar ~ Tuor and Voronwe see Turin at the Pools of Ivrin ~ White Ships to Valinor ~ The Ships of the Faithful (also used on front cover and spine on the paperback)
Just to dovetail a bit: There are two illustrated editions by Nasmith - one from 1998, the other from 2004. The 1998 one had about the usual number of illustrations as per usual (between 16 and 20). It also had a 'mixed' paper type: regular for text, photo style for the illustrations. The other, was the 2004 edition, which had about 50, including a bunch of new ones. This was possible, because the paper that the book was printed on was ENTIRELY photo style; much like the 2002 Lord of the Rings illustrated boxed set. Meaning, you could have text on one side, and an image on the other. The great tales books, the most recent illustrated Hobbit + Lord of the Rings boxed set and this new Unfinished Tales feature 'mixed' paper: regular for text and sketches, photo style for the illustrations. The 2008 Silmarillion paperback includes a great selection of images, both in terms of quantity, and the images themselves that appear in it. That's why I nominate those illustrations to be included.
Yeah it is, some of it has actually rubbed off. I only noticed when I edited the video. There's a black mark on the cover too, so I've sent it back for an exchange.
I did! I actually made a video but the audio was quite poor so I took it down. I have the new Father Christmas Letters too, so I'm hoping to have a recording day tomorrow...
So is it just me or is this larger(height wise) than the new hobbit+LotR illustrated box set? Because I just got it and it is substantially taller than the existing Children of Húrin, Fall of Gondolin, etc. illustrated editions with the glossy dust jackets. And those are almost the same exact height as the illustrated hobbit+LotR box set as you showed in your previous video... Seems maddening that they would do that.
It's the same size as the recent LoTR/Hobbit illustrated books, and the other books since Children of Hurin. They line up really well together on the shelf.
Weird...mine don’t line up that way at all. I should have the newly released illustrated TH+LotR box set within a few days and will confirm. But my brand new illustrated unfinished tales is taller(and far heavier stock paper) than the Children of Hurin, Fall of Gondolin, etc. illustrated hardcovers with the glossy dust jackets...
@@thenerdofalltrades8190 I just received a similar edition to yours from Amazon, and it is also taller than the other illustrated books. It is jarringly out of place with the others in the set. Not sure if this was just a fluke or if all American editions are like this...
so great to have all three "main illustrators" in one edition
Impatiently waiting for my copy to ship from the UK to the US. Definitely hope to see the Silmarillion get this treatment soon.
Best thing to do would be to e-mail HarperCollins to express your interest :)
It will! It’s coming out this March 2021 😃
REQUEST: Long time Tolkien fan, just rediscovered and reread LOTR and now rereading the Silmarillion, but one thing that has ALWAYS confused me is the geography of Arda. How it looked during the years of the lamps, how it looked during the years of the trees, the the ages of the sun, but most importantly the details of the process of change between those ages. I would be so grateful if you could do a video explaining what Arda, the entire world, looked in each period and detail the processes that created those changes. I've asked nearly every Tolkien channel I subscribe to but nothing yet.
I would look into getting The Atlas of Middle Earth by Karen Wynn Fonstad. It has many different maps from the many ages of Arda and explains how they changed over time, among many other things.
What is the binding and paper quality and where was it produced? Thanks
Did you see the news today about the new edition of The Silmarillion coming next March ?
Just saw your comment - thanks for the heads up!
New edition?
I was just going to mention that! So stoked!!
Wait, whaaaaa
In a couple of weeks now.
They just announced the Illustrated Silmarillion in this series. March I think.
no to say that "in an ideal world this would have been part of the history of middle earth" is a wrong statement, unfinished tales is as strong of canon as the published silmarillion, the history of middle earth isnt! also unfinished tales is basically a collection of short stories and extended background lore, and i love it! it has a feeling of a grimoire compiled by a wizard who found long forgotten texts
This book is not laminated on dust jacket. Dust jacket ruined with even a little moisture or sweat.
In their infinite wisdom they have laminated the back, but not the art side of dust jacket. You will not be able to have it delivered without a damaged dust jacket.
Showing support from Rhode Island USA. Love your content.
Lovely! Apparently it doesn’t come out in Australia until the end of the month tho 😭
Hi, lots of thanks for your great videos :) ! These non-glossy covers are beautiful. We now have Unfinished Tales, Hobbits & Lord of the Rings Set & Fall of Gondolin using these covers. A shame Beren & Luthien & Children of Hurin are still only available in ugly glossy format :( !
Not to mention the Silmarilion which seems to be completely forgotten overall.
I think we will be seeing the Silmarillion very soon ;)
The Silmarillion is coming out in one month!!!!
great review. Will be hoping to add this one to my collection
May I ask where did you usually buy your Tolkien books and deluxe/special editions? I’m asking as I don’t usually like to but things from unknown websites,
I just got some from amazon uk. They’re even cheaper than amazon us. And the shipping was not sooo expensive
Book depository is my go to place. It's cheaper than most sites.
Thank you! Wanted a flip through with some of the pics! This is what I want for Christmas this year! 🥰📚
Yesssseessss good booksessses precious precious
Wow! Looks great. Can't wait to see video with deluxe edition of this book😀
Do you think that the illustrated version of Children of Hurin, Beren & Luthien and Fall of Gondolin are in the same series as this one and the latest Hobbit + LOTR books? I'm thinking of buying them but I would be bummed if it turns out that they are releasing a new version of them lol
Please if possible kindly continue with Frodo journey videos. Thanks.
In answer to the age-old question "Emma Chisett" (said to have been asked by an Australian lady book-buyer when the author asked her for her name at a book-signing) the answer is GBP 22.19 or so. Which is pretty reasonable against my 1980 second reprint, GBP 7.50 as per sticker. EDIT: It's gone up, I swear because of my original posting
I am going to get it on 15th October this month.
Hope we don't have to wait too long for the Alan Lee illustrated edition of the Silmarillion, I love his artwork.
This video has made me want to revisit Unfinished Tales :)
Got mine too and very nice it is too. Be interested to see how the Deluxe differs
Nice one dude. Beautiful paintings. Nasmith is pronounced NAY-smith.
thanks bro...i have already brought the hobbit and LOR illustrated combo and liked it immensly. Aiming for this next.Thanks for showing it off
Thank you for showcasing these books! Are you aware if there are more illustrated editions planned in this style? That would be really lovely
Thanks! Silmarillion is out in March.
@@TalkingTolkien thank you! That's great, I'll mark that down. These videos have been very helpful :)
Hi there, I have another question: I'm assuming the new copies of this are supposed to come sealed in a plastic wrap, is that right? I'm asking because mine arrived without one, and the dust sleeve is a little worn as a result. Nothing major, but also nothing I'd expect from a proper fresh copy - if they're supposed to be sealed, that would indicate to me that it might be a returned copy, not a new one...
Mine didn't have one... I returned the first copy as the jacket was damaged. Second was fine though. Neither came with plastic cover.
Ordered mine yesterday from Amazon Warehouse Deals for only 7.55 € in very good condition (there are more in acceptable or good condition available). As the descriptions made by Amazon are often some kind of Russian roulette I'm not sure what to expect when it will arrive on Saturday (in the description it's stated that online codes might be missing or expired 😂). There's supposedly some damage to the dust jacket, hopefully it's not that bad. But fot this price I could live with it, I guess.
I had a giant some-anniversary-or-other deluxe edition of LotR as a kid. It featured nice, matte pages for the text and beautiful glossy Alan Lee plates. Took it to school and managed to drop it during reading time, severely damaging the spine. I don't know what became of it after that (I can't find it, and I've looked), but I haven't seen a nicer edition offered since. As an adult, I find myself yearning for beautiful editions of all the Tolkien books, and publishers keep dropping the ball. This one has gorgeous, glossy illustrations, but ALL the pages are glossy, making reading challenging. That one has sensible matte pages for the text, but now the illustrations are matte as well, not as faithfully reproduced, and dull. This other one has matte illustrations, but there are more of them, which is obviously better... right? Sigh. Just give me back by Lee LotR and make every other Tolkien book in the same way. Oh, and include a slipcover. Is that so much to ask?
Appreciate your videos! I live in the US and am looking to purchase a new copy of The Nature of Middle Earth. Your videos dive into overall product quality, which is important to me as well. Do you have a preference for purchasing books from Harper Collins or Mariner publishing company? Is the quality the same between them? I noticed Amazon was selling hardcover copies of The Fall of Gondolin with shinny covers, which I am trying to avoid. Appreciate any insight you can share.
I peeled off the sticker in case there was a cover price underneath. Nothing. Sadly the sticker is destroyed, but it was prominently headed A&U
Love you channel very much. Thanks for all your effort!
Does the standard edition include the map of Numenore, and is it in red ink?
It has a black and white map of Westernesse on a single page, not as detailed as what you'd see in the Atlas of Middle Earth.
I Hope HarperCollins is paying attention:
Please put out a matching edition of The Silmarillion next year (illustrated by Ted Nasmith). In terms of the images to be selected, I nominate the ones that have appeared in the 2008 paperback, which is about 16:
~ The Sea
~ The Light of the Valinor on the Western Sea
~ Fingolfin Leads the host Across the Helcaraxre
~ The Burning of the Ships
~ The Gates of Sirion
~ The Orc-Host is Ambushed in Brethil
~ By Moonlight in Neldoreth Forest
~ Luthien Escapes Upon Huan
~ The Hill of Slain
~ Turin and his band are led to Amon Rudh
~ Turin Reaches the Abandoned Homestead
~ Up the Rainy stair
~ Tuor Follows the swans to Vinyamar
~ Tuor and Voronwe see Turin at the Pools of Ivrin
~ White Ships to Valinor
~ The Ships of the Faithful (also used on front cover and spine on the paperback)
Just to dovetail a bit:
There are two illustrated editions by Nasmith - one from 1998, the other from 2004. The 1998 one had about the usual number of illustrations as per usual (between 16 and 20). It also had a 'mixed' paper type: regular for text, photo style for the illustrations.
The other, was the 2004 edition, which had about 50, including a bunch of new ones. This was possible, because the paper that the book was printed on was ENTIRELY photo style; much like the 2002 Lord of the Rings illustrated boxed set. Meaning, you could have text on one side, and an image on the other.
The great tales books, the most recent illustrated Hobbit + Lord of the Rings boxed set and this new Unfinished Tales feature 'mixed' paper: regular for text and sketches, photo style for the illustrations. The 2008 Silmarillion paperback includes a great selection of images, both in terms of quantity, and the images themselves that appear in it. That's why I nominate those illustrations to be included.
5:09 is the lettering on the spime blurry?
Yeah it is, some of it has actually rubbed off. I only noticed when I edited the video. There's a black mark on the cover too, so I've sent it back for an exchange.
Did you ever get the deluxe edition of UT ?
I did! I actually made a video but the audio was quite poor so I took it down. I have the new Father Christmas Letters too, so I'm hoping to have a recording day tomorrow...
Look forward to seeing them. I got the new Father Christmas myself, it was a lot bigger than I thought it would be
The edition is cool and beautiful, but feels too heavy for the hands.
So is it just me or is this larger(height wise) than the new hobbit+LotR illustrated box set? Because I just got it and it is substantially taller than the existing Children of Húrin, Fall of Gondolin, etc. illustrated editions with the glossy dust jackets. And those are almost the same exact height as the illustrated hobbit+LotR box set as you showed in your previous video... Seems maddening that they would do that.
It's the same size as the recent LoTR/Hobbit illustrated books, and the other books since Children of Hurin. They line up really well together on the shelf.
Weird...mine don’t line up that way at all. I should have the newly released illustrated TH+LotR box set within a few days and will confirm. But my brand new illustrated unfinished tales is taller(and far heavier stock paper) than the Children of Hurin, Fall of Gondolin, etc. illustrated hardcovers with the glossy dust jackets...
That is very odd! Are they all by the same publisher (HarperCollins)?
I believe they are Houghton Mifflin, though now you have me curious and I’ll have to check...
@@thenerdofalltrades8190 I just received a similar edition to yours from Amazon, and it is also taller than the other illustrated books. It is jarringly out of place with the others in the set. Not sure if this was just a fluke or if all American editions are like this...