MIDDLE EARTH - RECOMMENDED READING ORDER The standard way of reading the stories of Middle Earth is roughly in order of publication. THe MAIN BOOKS -------------- The Hobbit Lord of the Rings Fellowship of the Ring The Two Towers The Return of The King Silmarillion -------------- THE EARLIER AGES The varied books telling the history preceding the main books have a very different feel to LOTR, and are sometimes considered more difficult to read.As most of the work was incomplete the stories can be a little disjointed, and sometimes contradictory. They also tend to use a more formal, mythic language. It is not necessary to read them, but many people feel it enhances their enjoyment of the main books. Reading "The Silmarillion" first gives a good introduction to these tales. --------------- TOM BOMBADIL This story and it's preface can be read at any time after LOTR.
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