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The Ultimate ‘Lord of the Rings’ Fan Collection

One reading list to rule them all.

Corrie Evanoff

Read when you’ve got time to spare.

The reach of J.R.R. Tolkien’s writing is hard to surpass. With millions of books sold, his literary creations have spawned several blockbuster hits, a new TV series, and the naming system for an entire genus of wasps. More than 80 years after The Hobbit was first published, countless devoted fans—bookish teenagers, Hollywood producers, and Pocket editors alike—are self-professed Tolkienites with a seemingly insatiable thirst for Middle-earth discourse.

To celebrate the fandom and the timelessness of all things Tolkien, cozy up with this epic collection of great writing about the beloved author’s work and legacy.

Photo by Ellie Paterson / EyeEm / Getty Images

In Defense of the Multiple Endings in ‘The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King’

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.

Science’s Love Affair with ‘The Lord of the Rings’

What has it got in its academic journals, precious?

The J. R. R. Tolkien Story That Makes the Case for Fantasy Fiction

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

11 Songs Inspired by J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings

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

How the Battle for ‘Lord of the Rings’ Nearly Broke a Director

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.

9 Charts to Rule Them All

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

Did Tolkien Write ‘The Lord of the Rings’ Because He Was Avoiding His Academic Work?

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

A Brief History of “Looks Like Meat’s Back on the Menu, Boys!” From ‘The Two Towers’

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.

How J.R.R. Tolkien Found Mordor on the Western Front

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

BONUS READ: There and Back Again via The Atlantic.

Hobbits and Hippies: Tolkien and the Counterculture

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.

Imaginary Histories: How Tolkien’s Fascination with Language Shaped His Literary World

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.

Master of His Universe: The Warnings in J.R.R. Tolkien’s Novels

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.

Queer Readings of ‘The Lord of the Rings’ Are Not Accidents

Following breadcrumbs to find ourselves, in history and fiction.

The ‘Lord of the Rings’ Movies Are Now Holiday Movies. Here’s Why.

The trilogy deserves a place in your Christmas movie catalog.

‘The Lord of the Rings’ Faithfully Adapted Tolkien’s Unrelenting Belief in Hope

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

Climate Scientist Takes on Tolkien’s Middle-earth

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

‘The Lord Of The Rings’ Trilogy: A Look Back At A Breathtaking Gamble 20 Years Later

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.

A Guide to Being the Most Annoying Person to Watch ‘Lord of the Rings’ With

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

Tolkien’s Map and The Messed-Up Mountains of Middle-earth

Mountains don’t do corners.

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

Dear Tolkien Fans: Black People Exist

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

This Lord of the Rings App Is the Only Thing Getting Me to Exercise

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

How ‘Lord of the Rings’ Changed Big-Screen Battles Forever

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.

Silmarillion Seminars [LISTEN]

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

J.R.R. Tolkien Reads from ‘The Lord of the Rings’ and Sings “Sam’s Rhyme of the Troll” in a Rare Recording [LISTEN]

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

The Unquiet Voice of Saruman

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.

The Friendship Onion [LISTEN]

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.

‘The Last Ringbearer’: A Mordor-Centered Perspective on Tolkien

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.

The Final Treasure from the Tolkien Hoard

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