The Ultimate ‘Lord of the Rings’ Fan Collection

The movie’s 27-minute denouement has long been a joke, but 20 years later, it’s clear that each of the movie’s endings are necessary—and as a whole, they only enrich Peter Jackson’s entire trilogy.

What has it got in its academic journals, precious?

The Lord of the Rings author once wrote a short tale about a painter that elegantly argues for the value of escapism in literature.

Thanks to Led Zeppelin, there is nothing more rock ‘n’ roll than Gollum slipping away with your girl.

Forty years after Ralph Bakshi’s animated Lord of the Rings hit theaters, the filmmaker recalls courting Mick Jagger and Led Zeppelin and speaks candidly about the extreme pressure he was under, noting he almost died.

Visualizing Middle-earth like you’ve never seen it before.

How a literary icon always felt guilty about his failings with Chaucer.

Inside the mystifying LOTR line that spawned a meme.

BONUS READ: One Cannot Simply Separate the ‘Lord of the Rings’ Movies from Meme Immortality via Polygon.

The Battle of the Somme left its mark on the Lord of the Rings author.

BONUS READ: There and Back Again via The Atlantic.

J.R.R. Tolkien was a deeply religious Oxford don and World War I veteran—but his works had a huge impact on the ‘60s counterculture.

Damien Bador on the origins of a fantasy classic.

BONUS READ: Birth of a New World: The Tolkien Poem That Marks the Genesis of Middle-earth via The Guardian.

Dismissed as reactionary fantasy and even labelled fascist, Tolkien’s novels told of the corrupting influence of power. He deserves to be taken seriously, now more than ever.

Following breadcrumbs to find ourselves, in history and fiction.

The trilogy deserves a place in your Christmas movie catalog.

In the early 20th century, the writer saw a lot of shit.

The climate of Mordor would be similar to West Texas, according to researchers.

On paper, none of it looked like a recipe for success.

BONUS READ: What Peter Jackson’s Original Two-Movie Lord of the Rings Almost Looked Like via Polygon.

From experts in being annoying to watch the Lord of the Rings with.

Mountains don’t do corners.

BONUS READ: See the Sketches J.R.R. Tolkien Used to Build Middle-earth via Wired.

“I remember wondering if Legolas would have tolerated such open bigotry and discrimination.”

It’s a dangerous business, Frodo, going out your door.

Cutting-edge effects don’t always hold up, but 20 years later, the Uruk-hai orcs from Helm’s Deep look every bit as real and threatening as they did when they first charged the mountain stronghold.

BONUS READ: How Lord of the Rings’ Gollum Changed the Course of Special Effects via Vulture.

A series of lectures on The Silmarillion—for those who want to give it another chance.

“One Ring to rule them all, One Ring to find them, One Ring to bring them all and in the darkness bind them…”

Saruman is a wizard of burning jealousy and dangerous pride, but you can sometimes feel sorry for him.

BONUS READ: The Truth About Gandalf via Polygon.

Featuring interviews with cast and crew, diving deep into life behind the scenes, and answering the many fan questions, The Friendship Onion from your favorite Hobbits, friends and co-stars, Billy Boyd and Dom Monaghan will peel back the layers of their friendship, both on screen and off.

Kirill Yeskov’s novel The Last Ringbearer is set during and after the end of the War of the Ring, and is told from the perspective of those who lost.

BONUS READ: How (Not) to Write a Sequel to Lord of the Rings via The New Statesman.

Christopher Tolkien wraps up a four-decade curation of his father’s legacy.