The Lord of the Rings
by J.R.R. Tolkien · first published 1954
25% recommend72% neutral3% critical
Why HN recommends it
Epic fantasy praised for its rich, deeply built world and idea density, with moving themes and maps that anchor the setting. Suits readers who love world-building and re-reading, and works well read aloud to kids.
Summarised by Claude from recommending comments
Originally published from 1954 through 1956, J.R.R. Tolkien's richly complex series ushered in a new age of epic adventure storytelling. A philologist and illustrator who took inspiration from his work, Tolkien invented the modern heroic quest novel from the ground up, creating not just a world, but a domain, not just a lexicon, but a language, that would spawn countless imitators and lead to the inception of the epic fantasy genre. Today, THE LORD OF THE RINGS is considered "the most influential fantasy novel ever written." (THE ENCYCLOPEDIA OF FANTASY) During his travels across Middle-ear
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see my nick, but in addition to stephenson, the books i come back to over and over again for comfort and wisdom include: - Lord of the Rings: The other bible. Not even the very wise can see all ends; be of good cheer. - A Wrinkle In Time: 9 year old me, there is such a thing as a tesseract, and there is also Mrs. Beast. - The Master and…
on “Ask HN: Great fiction books that have had a positive impact on your life?” ↗While I mostly agree, The Lord of the Rings still stands head and shoulders above anything else in the fantasy genre. I recently reread them and I'd forgotten how much better they are than anything else in fantasy.
on ““Blade Runner” has its own look, and a place in film history (1982)” ↗…ones that you ought to read no matter what your situation. The Little Schemer http://www.ccs.neu.edu/home/matthias/BTLS/ Master and Commander http://books.google.com/books?id=rx_yw5iMtnIC&dq=&pg... Lord of the Rings (you can find this one yourself) and probably a lot more, but I've got to run. Good luck!
on “What books would you recommend reading? Why?” ↗…Jonathan Haidt's The Righteous Mind, for explaining so much personally and culturally so concisely. * Everything on this list: http://jakeseliger.com/2010/03/22/influential-books-on-me-th.... * The Lord of the Rings, for its combination of story, interior drama, and (underrated) political economy. * Blindsight by Peter Watts. * Heart of Darkness by Conrad, who seems more prophetic all the time.
on “Ask HN: What are the most thought-provoking books that you have read?” ↗Just finished reading the hobbit and lord of the rings to my 7 year old. I absolutely loved it, and he's a full blown Tolkien nut now. Previously we read through Harry Potter. By the end I noticed I have really developed a voice. He has developed a richer…
on “The Lost Pleasure of Reading Aloud” ↗I love Tolkien's The Hobbit and Lord of the Rings and find the world he built intricate and fascinating, but I'm not sure how I feel about the posthumous work his son has released. I know they were based off his father's extensive notes and manuscripts…
on “Third Tolkien Trilogy, THE FALL OF GONDOLIN to Publish on August 30” ↗…Sci-fi: - We - The Sirens of Titan - Hyperion - Stories of Your Life - Frankenstein - The Day of the Triffids - Childhood's End Fantasy: - The Stormlight Archives - The First Law Trilogy - The Lord of the Rings Literature: - The Stranger - Dubliners - Things I've Learned from Dying - The Things They Carried - Cloud Atlas - Stoner - Pillars of the Earth
on “Ask HN: Which non-programming books are a beneficial read for programmers?” ↗…Thief/Fractal Price/Causal Angel [Jean le Flambeur series] - Hannu Rajaniemi (I enjoyed the first book in this trilogy the best, the third was too difficult for me to understand! Very hard Sci-fi) 6. Lord of the Rings - JRR Tolkien (enjoyed the audio production from BBC radio) 7. The Paper Menagerie and Other Stories - Ken Liu (enjoyed several of the short stories very much) 8. Revelation Space/Chasm City/Redemption…
on “Ask HN: Books you read in 2018?” ↗It's so hard to recommend something without a frame of reference. Personally, I've found myself re-reading The Lord of the Rings lately. But, if I had to pick one book that was my favourite, I might say Moby Dick. (I'll admit that I actually read it first after seeing the Wrath of Khan as a kid)
on “Ask HN: What is the best fiction book you've ever read? ” ↗…playful and innovative, making use of devices such as meta-references, alternative pasts, removal of the fourth wall, etc. I'm not sure how much non-native audiences can enjoy translations, though. • “The Lord of the Rings” (Tolkien) for the original epic and touching fantasy. (I know many people devour it in their teens, or in their early youth… But I read it as an adult; quite late. Mainly because it seemed to be the…
on “Ask HN: Books you wish you had read earlier?” ↗in no particular order: Lord of the Rings Cryptonomicon Anathem Moby Dick The Master and Margarita Walden Arabian Sands Gawain and the Green Knight Beowulf
on “Ask HN: What books have most influenced the way you see the world?” ↗And also drawing the final maps that appeared within The Lord of the Rings, if you've ever pored over them while reading. For me, they were an integral part of the book too, and something that also defined the fantasy genre experience and helped cement the world building of…
on “Christopher Tolkien has died” ↗…future society, if you are amazed by Iain Banks' scope, if you think that Asimov is brilliant ... you'll want to read this 6-book sequence. Excellent, recommend by others in this thread already: * _The Lord of the Rings_
on “Ask HN: Great fiction books that have had a positive impact on your life?” ↗…Farm, Orwell The Moon is a Harsh Mistress, Heinlein Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance, Persig Cat's Cradle, Vonnegut Catch-22, Heller The first 3-4 books of the Foundation Series, Asimov The Lord of the Rings, Tolkien
on “Ask HN: Which books would you recommend to me that had a big impact on you” ↗…False Memory by Dean Koontz I think a good case could be made for a handful of others also. Specifically: - Nineteen Eighty Four by Orwell - The Fountainhead by Ayn Rand - Foundation by Asimov - The Lord of the Rings by Tolkien are all strong contenders as well.
on “Ask HN: What is your favorite fiction book?” ↗