The Atlas of Middle-Earth (Revised Edition)

I got this as a gift for my boyfriend, who is a huge Tolkien fan. He instantly loved it and excitedly flipped through each page. I'd recommend for anyone who loves Lord of the Rings or other Tolkien works!

This book is instrumental for the Tolkien fan! I read The Silmarillion while having this atlas open by my side. It gives you a great feel for where the characters are in all the different ages. Also some intelligent cliff notes on some of the major stories.

The book is great! the drawings and illustrations are very well done and are very instructive for fans who want a more complete experience for tolkiens books. On the other hand I think that a hard cover would make the book even better, anyway, this book is a very good experience to deal with tolkiens word.

Good maps and explanations. Great that includes sources. Organized according to countries, cities, trips, battles. Great resource. Would like more explanations at times but then Tolkien didn't give more.

This book looks like someone's old college doctoral project. It's OK, but in consideration of the renewed interest in all things Hobbit brought about by the new movie series, this is really a very disappointing and lack-luster work. The maps are unicolor (all shades of brown or tan) and flat - no attempts at topological representation anywhere - and have the "look and feel" of maps drawns for a college project rather than professional cartography. Most of the text is reprinted from various Middle Earth stories with a few original comments from the author, but not much is added to the overall commentary of the Middle Earth. The multiple errors in the maps are discussed in other reviews of this book, so I won't repeat that.
It is not a bad collection of line drawings of the geological features of the Middle Earth, but given the computer graphical imagery available to any college student today, it is far, far short of what it should be.

Very well researched, and where assumptions are made they are pointed out in the notes. And not just the maps, but context specific to the different books, such as the journey's of each part of the fellowship, with days and distances. Very detailed.

Beautiful illustrations, amazing attention to detail. It covers so many esoteric events across the history of middle earth as well. Great to follow along with while watching the movies or reading the books to put things into perspective.

This is an amazing companion to have when reading about Middle Earth. The maps are detailed and serve the reader in following the heroes as they travel across the land. This is especially true if your have an edition that does not have fold out maps.

This book is excellent: all the maps are based on the books (descriptions and concepts made by Tolkien).
All the contents are excellently introduced and the drawings are magnific and in the same line as Tolkien did the map of Middle Earth.
I only miss a better and harder cover for this book.

For those who have ever read The Silmarillion or the Lord of the Rings series and wondered where the heck everyone is. Especially liked the overview of the lands' history in relation to the books, and not just a book of maps, as I expected.

Only filled in the boxes above because I couldn't get anywhere before completing them. Have no idea how the story is narrated. Wasn't aware there was a story--it's an Atlas, which I gave to my grandson as he is reading Tolkien now . I should hope there is no violence or sexual content because, as I have said before, it's and Atlas. My grandson seems very happy with it.

I can't even imagine the amount of effort it took to produce this, especially given the limited source info, but this is a must have if you are a Tolkien fan. I cannot think of a single map I would need that isn't in here.

I like very much content of this book. Very nice. Unfortunately publisher did mediocre job. Quality of paper not very good, sometimes maps that take two pages are shifted, and quite often it's very hard to see the map in the place where the spine is.

There are a lot of nice things about this book, but it has a number of disappointing flaws. There are quite a few geographical questions that were left unanswered for me (my primary reason for buying it) and the graphics make the information a little hard to glean. There are certainly some maps I enjoyed, but (perhaps because every serious fan has their own pet interests) I did not feel the author capitalized on the opportunity the concept of the book represents.

Tons of maps and cool pictures of the Middle Earth world. Difficult to read as if it were a "book" if you're looking for a new story or something to really sit down and get into. Really great for flipping through and stopping at everything that catches your eye.

I specifically ordered this book for a friend of mine who is REALLY in not only Lord of the Rings but everything that has to do with that series. He can talk small pieces of information like a skilled essayist and will deftly argue minutae (sp?) with cliff notes as it were to back it up.

When I found out he lost this book in a house fire, I knew he'd appreciate it back. He was.

Hope that helps...spelling/grammar not with standing.

Just received my book! Very happy with this, I bought mine used and the condition is very good. I don't see any noticeable wear except the bottom on the cover but only a little wear at that. The inside is clean and unmarked. I can't wait to read through this atlas, thank you!

I love the Lord of the Rings. I mean I am a hard core fan. So, when I saw this book I had to look here on the store for a slightly cheaper version. I love the book and the artwork is pretty good too, very detailed maps.

The seller said book had wear and tear, and some marks with highlighters, when I received it book looked completely brand new,I would recommend buying from this company, also this book is very intriguing with maps hat are very detailed of Middle earth a very good buy for J.R.R Tolkienites

This book was required for a college class; however, I have greatly enjoyed it and find this book is a great read on its own. If you are a fan of such books as "The Hobbit," you will greatly enjoy this book. It's a wonderful companion book for your other Middle-Earth reads and helps you to understand some pieces of the stories that you may have earlier ignored.

This is absolutely unacceptable s***. Every mention of "orcs" is mistyped "ores". Mind you, a rather popular word used in this book! This means over 100 typos!!! I paid 15 bucks for this digital copy. Please give me back my money. This would never have been put on the shelves if it was a physical copy. And yes I'm using kindle's app and I have tried every available font size and type.

The book itself is wonderful. However, the Kindle version's print is so light that I found it unusable. I instead bought a PDF version and the difference is stark. If the store ever republishes this in a format for Kindle that has better resolution I would absolutely buy it. As it is now (02/11/2018) it is not worth buying.

I'm reviewing the 1991 softcover edition which features the same Alan Lee front cover art of Edoras as later versions but is limited to 210 pages. This is a revised edition from the original Allen and Unwin (Tolkien's publishers) 1981 hardcover release.

The work is crammed with every conceivable map of J.R.R. Tolkien's Middle Earth, chiefly extracted from early editions of, and improved from: The Silmarillion,The Hobbit: 70th Anniversary Edition,The Lord of the Rings: 50th Anniversary, One Vol. Edition, and The Histories of Middle Earth, Volumes 1-5.

Accompanying each map series is a scholarly text which captures all manner of Tolkien trivia and minutia, largely in regard to Middle Earth migrations and travels by the Tolien characters and cultures of the various ages. On some of the maps timelines are noted, (for example, regarding Frodo and Company's expedition from The Shire to Rivendell.) Locations of prominent figures (e.g., Tom Bombadil) and various attacks upon travelers (e.g., Weathertop) are duly noted.

I would not begin to question the *accuracy* of any of these maps, (based, of course, upon Tolkien's original work.) Author Karen Wynn Fonstad is a cartographer and she's clearly wholly-informed on the entire body of Middle Earth writings. I did find a number of these maps confusing -- I'm pretty well-read on Tolkien but I do not profess in any sense to be an expert on his literature. I think perhaps that the abbreviated coloring of the maps limited my personal understanding of them. But as a reference book for those reading the various Tolkien works in real time I think they would be quite informative.

The text is hardly what one would call flowing -- it's academic in nature and thus a bit stiff. Again however, this is appropriate to the document. I mention the fact only to alert prospective readers that the author did not intend her work to be an extension of Middle Earth yarns. In Fonstad's introductory comments she points out that about one-third of the maps are wholly new, (developed and drawn by herself.)

It's relevant to note that Fonstad has not limited her fantasy world cartography efforts to the realm of Tolkien. Among others, she has also published The Atlas of Pern and The Forgotten Realms Atlas. And there are later editions of the instant work available, apparently re-revised as the product description lists them as having more pages than this version.

For enthusiasts of Tolkien literature this book is probably indispensible -- count it as a five-star acquisition. For all others, those with more casual interests, check it out at your local public library.

An indispensable guide for any fan of Tolkien's books ("The Hobbit," "The Lord of the Rings" trilogy & "The Silmarillion"). Fonstad's maps are well-drawn, showing in detail how Middle Earth changed over the ages, from its creation by Eru, through its partial destruction during the Wars of the Jewels & the creation/destruction of Numenor, to the Middle Earth that most readers know from "The Hobbit" & LTR. Particularly helpful are the detailed drawings of specific places - Bag End, the "Prancing Pony," Isengard, Lorien, & especially Helm's Deep - at last, I was able to visualize the battle & figure out who was doing what, where. In addition to regional maps (the Shire, the Misty Mountains, etc.), there are maps of the important battles showing lines of attack by the various forces (e.g., in the battle of the Pelennor Fields, she shows the Morgul-Host, the Rohirrim, Gondor's peoples & Aragorn's ships using dates & lines/arrows comparable to the depictions of the Battle of Gettysburg from the PBS series, "The Civil War"). There is also an excellent series of "pathways" with overviews of the various characters' travels through Middle Earth in "Hobbit" & LTR, including dates, so that the reader gets a clear picture of their journeys & overlapping dates (especially the travels & travails of the Fellowship from Frodo's departure from Bag End, to the breaking of the Fellowship just above Rauros Falls, through the various battles in the West while Frodo & Sam make their way into Mordor). Fonstad's drawings are based on Tolkien's own sketches, as well as the narratives themselves, but she also includes information about climate, landforms, populations, etc., while remaining faithful to Tolkien's creations. Tolkien devotees will reach for this book again & again.

I'll start with saying the Atlas of Middle-Earth is a great read. It's most definitely a fantastic addition to any Tolkien lovers collection. I in no way regret buying it.

It provides an in depth look at several interesting moments throughout the first, second and third age. Then it goes even more into detail with providing the travel paths Bilbo and the Dwarves took during The Hobbit, and Frodo and the Fellowship took during the Lord of the Rings. It also provides descriptive explanations at what you're looking at for each map, and how or why the map might have changed. It's great for getting a solid look at how the world has shifted over the ages, and provides a pleasant surprise to how Tolkien related it to our current world today.

On the downside it still does not provide any maps or information leading to the Far East, nor Harad, or the Iron Hills northeast of Mirkwood. This may be due to a lack of information provided by Tolkien on the areas at large. Or it may just be research that has not been brought to a close to add in. In any event, I was definitely a slight bit disappointed with the unsaid mystery that this book along with many others have left unexplained and uncharted.

As mentioned in some previous reviews. There are some small differences in the mapping, city scale and design, from other maps, artwork and of course the movies, that will leave you a bit in question. For example the layout and scale of Minis Tirith is a fair ways off for the conceptual design they used in the movie as well as some of the artwork you see in the illustrated novels. However overall the accuracy and detail of the book is absolutely fantastic.

I give it a four star review overall, which would've been a five had it provided some detail or explanation on the uncharted lands mentioned above.

I definitely recommend it to everyone I know who is a Tolkien enthusiast and do say the price for the quality is more than reasonable. You won't be disappointed with this book.

The last time I re-read LORD OF THE RINGS I kept this book beside me. Every time Frodo's or Aragorn's journey changed I referred to the maps in Fonstad's book. I understood Tolkien's geography so much better that way. And I got a better understanding of distances and travel time (how far *is* Isengard from Rohan??). The maps are detailed, yet easy to read. Fonstad's text is enlightening as well. Not only are geographical maps included, but also architectural maps: Bag End, Rivendell, and more! For the Tolkien aficionado, Fonstad has mapped the Silmarillion and for the Tolkien neophyte she's included maps that accompany The Hobbit. A timeline of RINGS is included as well - very helpful since Tolkien, unlike Peter Jackson's movie, does not "intercut" between Frodo and Aragorn's stories, but instead spends many chapters with each.
Why is this book better than the maps that Tolkien drew himself for the books? Because Fonstad traces the complete journey in several maps that show topography and routes taken.
I highly recommend trying to read Tolkien's books with Fonstad's maps close by for reference.

The Lord of the Rings (LotR) is an incredibly complex story spanning hundreds of people (elves, men, dwarves, hobbits, orcs, etc) and thousands of miles. The geography is immense and it can be a little difficult to keep track of all the places and structures (unless you take notes as you read). The maps presented as part of the appendix is good, but not enough.
The Atlas of Middle-earth is a superb companion not only to The Lord of the Rings, but to The Silmarillion, and to anyone interested in Tolkien. The book is ideally divided into ages (there are 3 ages described), with short descriptions of the significant happenings. The major battles of LotR are presented here, with maps that show major movements of all sides, plus tables that show how many troops were involved. It adds to the richness of LotR by giving the reader a good and firm perspective of the land the people live in, how they lived, and the battles fought. For LotR, you will be able to visulaize the movements of the Fellowship and realize how perfectly each of the separate movements (of the Companions) came together at the end--like an elegant chess movement.

As I said in my subject title, this book is the ultimate companion to the Lord of the Rings saga by JRR Tolkien.
The Atlas goes into immense details of the maps of Tolkien's Middle Earth, highlighting the journeys of Bilbo, Frodo and The Fellowship of the Ring.
It is all done in a very serious, sincere and professional manner, and it is clear that Ms. Fonstad has put a lot of effort into making this book.
But like all works of fiction, there are errors, but there are few to be sure. Where these errors arise, Ms Fonstad has made reasonable assumptions or compromises between the conflicting data, but none of them seriously detract from Tolkien's word in any way. As another reviewer said, this is testament to the creative genius of Tolkien, and his uncanny attention to detail that make the books so believable.
I highly recommend this book to any Lord of the Rings fan, as it is a fascinating book that clarifies the geography of Middle-Earth in a way that has never been done before.

Karen Wynn Fonstad's Atlas of Middle-earth is the result of many long hours of scholarly study of the various clues in Tolkien's writings about the physical makeup of Middle-earth. If you are both a Tolkien fan and a lover of histories and maps this is a wonderful resource.
Amid all the wonderfully intricate speculations and detailed analysis you find in The Atlas of Middle-earth is yet more evidence of Tolkien's genius. How could anyone have produced such a detailed and true to life world as Middle-earth over a period of many years without producing contradiction after contradiction? Tolkien did it, and Fonstad's Atlas demonstrates his magnificent achievement as wonderfully as any of the Professor's works themselves. An essential part of any Tolkien lover's collection.

I'm about midway on the Tolkien level, having read almost all of his works, including the History of Middle Earth series, I have a lot more knowledge than a casual reader who just read The Hobbit in gradeschool and The Lord of the Rings based on the movie. That said, I'm not a scholar who devotes every waking minute to the study of Tolkien's works. For me, this book is ideal, it has enough "meat" to please the part of me that loves minute' without getting so far into the weeds that I forget that I'm supposed to be enjoying myself. There are some minor errors, which Fonstad admits could emerge as she is a geographer, not a Tolkien scholar. But these errors are generally so minor that only a true fanatic would notice them. Nor do they generally affect the overall impression of the work or the readers' ability to appreciate Tolkien's world.

Fonstad not only has drawn excellent and very readable maps, but her text also details her rationale for the decisions she's had to make and as an interpreter of Tolkien whose also bound by the rules of the real world, I find her difficult to beat.

This work covers the whole of the Tolkien universe, from creation through the last journey of Sam to the Havens. Detailed maps and drawings of locations and buildings are included. Migrations and journeys are also charted in great detail. The book concludes with detailed thematic maps covering things like languages.

Overall, this book is an excellent resource and one I'd recommend for anybody who wants to better understand and appreciate the true scale and magnificence of Tolkien's creation.

. . .and Big People alike.
Many hobbits are fond of maps, even those who are not fond of adventures. This wonderful book of maps by one of the few Big People to visit Middle-Earth is invaluable for those hobbits (like myself) who like books of things they already know, set down fair and square with no contradictions.
No hobbit, upon acquiring this book, has any excuse for getting lost anywhere in the Four Farthings, or on the Road to Bree. Beyond that, I would still recommend a Ranger for a guide.
After the return of the Travellers, hobbits in general became more interested in the Wide World. This volume is useful in that it describes, in terms familiar to hobbits, those lands through which the Travellers adventured. It certainly puts things in perspective.
A book to enjoy in the evening with one's pipe and a pint of beer.

The Lord of the Rings (LotR) is an incredibly complex story spanning hundreds of people (elves, men, dwarves, hobbits, orcs, etc) and thousands of miles. The geography is immense and it can be a little difficult to keep track of all the places and structures (unless you take notes as you read). The maps presented as part of the appendix is good, but not enough.
The Atlas of Middle-earth is a superb companion not only to The Lord of the Rings, but to The Silmarillion, and to anyone interested in Tolkien. The book is ideally divided into ages (there are 3 ages described), with short descriptions of the significant happenings. The major battles of LotR are presented here, with maps that show major movements of all sides, plus tables that show how many troops were involved. It adds to the richness of LotR by giving the reader a good and firm perspective of the land the people live in, how they lived, and the battles fought. For LotR, you will be able to visulaize the movements of the Fellowship and realize how perfectly each of the separate movements (of the Companions) came together at the end--like an elegant chess movement.

As I said in my subject title, this book is the ultimate companion to the Lord of the Rings saga by JRR Tolkien.
The Atlas goes into immense details of the maps of Tolkien's Middle Earth, highlighting the journeys of Bilbo, Frodo and The Fellowship of the Ring.
It is all done in a very serious, sincere and professional manner, and it is clear that Ms. Fonstad has put a lot of effort into making this book.
But like all works of fiction, there are errors, but there are few to be sure. Where these errors arise, Ms Fonstad has made reasonable assumptions or compromises between the conflicting data, but none of them seriously detract from Tolkien's word in any way. As another reviewer said, this is testament to the creative genius of Tolkien, and his uncanny attention to detail that make the books so believable.
I highly recommend this book to any Lord of the Rings fan, as it is a fascinating book that clarifies the geography of Middle-Earth in a way that has never been done before.

Karen Wynn Fonstad's Atlas of Middle-earth is the result of many long hours of scholarly study of the various clues in Tolkien's writings about the physical makeup of Middle-earth. If you are both a Tolkien fan and a lover of histories and maps this is a wonderful resource.
Amid all the wonderfully intricate speculations and detailed analysis you find in The Atlas of Middle-earth is yet more evidence of Tolkien's genius. How could anyone have produced such a detailed and true to life world as Middle-earth over a period of many years without producing contradiction after contradiction? Tolkien did it, and Fonstad's Atlas demonstrates his magnificent achievement as wonderfully as any of the Professor's works themselves. An essential part of any Tolkien lover's collection.

I'm about midway on the Tolkien level, having read almost all of his works, including the History of Middle Earth series, I have a lot more knowledge than a casual reader who just read The Hobbit in gradeschool and The Lord of the Rings based on the movie. That said, I'm not a scholar who devotes every waking minute to the study of Tolkien's works. For me, this book is ideal, it has enough "meat" to please the part of me that loves minute' without getting so far into the weeds that I forget that I'm supposed to be enjoying myself. There are some minor errors, which Fonstad admits could emerge as she is a geographer, not a Tolkien scholar. But these errors are generally so minor that only a true fanatic would notice them. Nor do they generally affect the overall impression of the work or the readers' ability to appreciate Tolkien's world.

Fonstad not only has drawn excellent and very readable maps, but her text also details her rationale for the decisions she's had to make and as an interpreter of Tolkien whose also bound by the rules of the real world, I find her difficult to beat.

This work covers the whole of the Tolkien universe, from creation through the last journey of Sam to the Havens. Detailed maps and drawings of locations and buildings are included. Migrations and journeys are also charted in great detail. The book concludes with detailed thematic maps covering things like languages.

Overall, this book is an excellent resource and one I'd recommend for anybody who wants to better understand and appreciate the true scale and magnificence of Tolkien's creation.

. . .and Big People alike.
Many hobbits are fond of maps, even those who are not fond of adventures. This wonderful book of maps by one of the few Big People to visit Middle-Earth is invaluable for those hobbits (like myself) who like books of things they already know, set down fair and square with no contradictions.
No hobbit, upon acquiring this book, has any excuse for getting lost anywhere in the Four Farthings, or on the Road to Bree. Beyond that, I would still recommend a Ranger for a guide.
After the return of the Travellers, hobbits in general became more interested in the Wide World. This volume is useful in that it describes, in terms familiar to hobbits, those lands through which the Travellers adventured. It certainly puts things in perspective.
A book to enjoy in the evening with one's pipe and a pint of beer.

I found this reference to be an absolutely essential companion to my first reading of LOTR. My only very small criticism (not even enough to subtract a star!) is that a few of the maps reveal "spoilers" - in my search for details about the geography of Mordor, I found references to upcoming plot points.
This may well be inevitable in a work of this kind, but it is a bit disconcerting. Of couse, my criticism will be misplaced for many buyers, who doubtless are longtime Tolkein fans - but if you're considering buying this as a gift for someone who's just starting with Tolkein, warn them to take care in choosing which maps to open.

I hardly think I could say something original in my particular review of this book. What I can say is that, by any measure, the author did Tolkien fans the greatest of favors and paid Tolkien a serious compliment by creating a wonderfully written and well-researched atlas of a detailed fantasy. I became absorbed in Middle Earth simply by reading Tolkien's words. The Atlas has succeeded in fueling my fascination with all of Tolkien's M.E. writings, and adding texture to an already rich experience for me. I gladly push this book on anyone who has read Tolkien and is hungry for more. This book is the next best thing to being there.

Lord of the Rings is an amazing book. The Atlas of Middle Earth is an amazing companion volume to go with it. Unlike Pern, Middle Earth is far too complex to visualize perfectly, and the atlas of it is a remarkable (and perfectly accurate) resource. All of the maps are annotated and all the sources are quoted on those very pages. Likewise, maps of all scales are provided - from the grand global views to small views of towns and single buildings. Everything is done in a marvelous sepia hue, The book almost passes for an ancient manuscript.
This work is, without argument, the most necessary resource for someone embarking to read any of Tolkien's books.

As most printings of the Trilogy include a map, this book may seem unnecessary. In my opinion, the converse is true. The small map printed in the Trilogy is nothing but an appetizer compared this atlas. While the book was printed in only two colors, it has excellent detail. I found the maps of the battles quite useful, giving a better idea of how the battles progressed. The book also details the times covered only slightly in the books, as well as the era of the Silmarillion.
In addition, this book is highly recommended as a supplement for those watching the movie. Tolkien created a universe so vast that it is easy to get lost, especially in Peter Jackson's excellent movie.

I'm so glad that I bought this book. It helped me a lot to understand and get the pictures of what/when/where and how each characters did in the Lord of the Ring trilogy books. There're maps of the journeys in the Hobbit and The fellowship of the rings. Maps of many important places such as, Lonely mountain, Rivendell/ Lothorian. Also, there're pictures summary about all the battles (Helms deep..etc).. All the maps are more in detail than Tolkien maps found in the books. If you have a little hard time to imagine all of the landscape and places Tolkien described (just like me), this book is a must-have one.. Recommended!!

I ought to preface this review by saying that I've had the opportunity to meet Dr. Fonstad, who until retiring recently was a cartographer in the Department of Geography at the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh, through a talk she gave in an introductory cartography class about her work.
That having been said, if you're looking for a glitzy book of slick pictures of Bilbo, Frodo & Co.'s wanderings, don't buy this book. If you're looking for an exhaustively researched, meticulously prepared visual guide to Tolkien's world, don't look any further. Rather than detract from the Atlas, the hand-drawn plates fit in rather nicely, with a warm, old-fashioned feel, dovetailing nicely with the style of the books.
However, the Atlas is not a slave to Tolkien's words. There are many instances where what is described word-for-word in print is physically impossible, even by Middle-Earth standards. Rather than shoehorn her maps into these impossibilities, Dr. Fonstad chose to preserve Tolkien's vision of a believable world, and created a geographically consistent structure throughout. Far from heresy, this serves to enhance and reinforce the vision presented in the Atlas.
As exhaustive as the information in the Atlas is, it would be very difficult to come up with a perfect layout and presentation. It can be a bit difficult to use and sort through, especially when you first pick it up. But, with a little practice, and a little patience, it will serve you as faithfully as did the little map in the front of your paperback copy of The Hobbit the first time you read it.

This atlas is well worth the money. The book covers all of the LOTR series. It first goes into the layout of Middle Earth with respects of what type of rock for each areas. Valinor is covered, as well as Beleriand. Then, the battles are covered from the Silmarillion, The Hobbit, and the LOTR. Many illustrations are in the book, including the Tower of Cirith Ingol, Ederas, and Minas Tirith. Then the author has painstakingly taken the pathways of the Nine Walkers, from Bag End to Mount Doom. This includes dates, times, miles traveled, campsites on the map, ect. The author then goes into landforms - how the continents in Middle Earth could have been formed, the languages used, and the climates of Middle Earth.

This book is invaluble for the true Tolkien Fan since Middle Earth is well discribed and the paths travelled by the Nine Walkers is shown out day by day.

Combine this book with the Maps of Middle Earth, and the Lord of the Rings A Reader's Companion, and your knowledge of Middle Earth will make a wizard jealous.

This book gives us the geography of the stories set in Tolkien's Middle Earth, from the Elder Days to the end of the Third Age. The author, a cartographer, has drawn dozens of three-colored maps, accompanying them with informative texts based on written descriptions and sketches. Her sources include Christopher Tolkien's The History as well as the Silmarillion, the Hobbit, and The Lord of the Rings. This is fascinating stuff, carefully done. It meets a need for Tolkien fans frustrated by the inadequate maps that have accompanied some editions of the trilogy.

When reading Lord of the Rings or other Tolkien works like the Silmarillion, many readers (including myself) find the vastness of it all very difficult. It's hard to remember which mountains were where, who lived in what place, and when various peoples moved. Despite a few inaccuracies, this atlas is an invaluable resource, especially for geography buffs. It provides great detail in all areas. Even the size and direction of advancing armies is noted, lending the whole saga an even more "historical" feel. Just another great resource that brings the classic Tolkien mythology to life!

The mythology behind "Middle-earth" invites the reader to enter the mysterious lands of Arda. As I was getting ready to teach the Hobbit and TLOR, I realized that I was getting completely confused abotu the geography of ME, and the routes and the distance between places.
That's when I found this book which, although doesn't use state of the art, computer generated images, covers all the points I needed.
I truly liked the details of hte movements, and especially the footnotes with the reference to particular chapters.
It made my work easier, and it made me appreciate the work of Prof. Tolkien even more.
Middle-earth is too big, don't get lost.

Karen Fonstad's acclaimed atlas of Middle Earth, to some, has done justice to the focal topography of the region. I must say from a personal perspective that as a 1st time respective viewer of Tolkien's work, I cannot fully judge this atlas for it's accuracy but for it's informational status. Many reviews have proclaimed that Fonstad's approach to Helm's Deep and countless other regions have been fondled with completely. I sure can easily say that this has not yet phased me. What have though are the quality amounts of information I have checked upon with my multiple Tolkien references and my copies of the Silmarillian and the Lost Tales. I see absolutely no difference. Not long ago I had created a very successful paper on the 2nd Battle of Beleriand and the strategically prepared maps found on pages 28-on were very helpful on approaching the work in a concise and focused manner. Among these needless facts, the book contains multiple references to each individual route from each individual book Tolkien had written; each and every migration of Elves. Basically, if you worship Illuvitar in your basement and call your friends to slay Orcs over the weekend, you have the possibility of being disappointed. For the beginners in gear for a more advanced topic, be ready to devote every blood-sucking hour to Morgoth's cruelty against the Elves of Beleriand.

This book is amazing. It is like taking one of the original maps of Middle Earth and zooming way into it. There is a map of the shire, enemy paths in war. It also includes maps of the FIRST AGE, SECOND AGE, THIRD AGE. As well, it includes maps from the THE HOBBIT, THE LORD OF THE RINGS, and THE SILMARILLION. THE ATLAS OF MIDDLE EARTH incudes REGIONAL MAPS and THEMATIC MAPS

Yet this book is not for everyone. If the movies are the things your crazy about, this book is not for you(it just matches to the books, so you might not get everything). You have to love the books and love the setting to get the most out of THE ATLAS OF MIDDLE EARTH.

ENJOY!!!!

When I first purchased this book, the clerk at the bookstore told me that they had not sold any until that moment. She went on to explain that the books had been accidentally shelved in the travel section for months. Once I got the book home, I could understand how the error was made.
This volume brings Middle-Earth to life so vividly, you might think you could plan your vacation there. The movements of Tolkien's characters and people can be traced with astounding detail that puts many geography textbooks to shame.
My only regret is that I did not have a copy of the Atlas when I first read Lord of the Rings. When next I enter the land of Hobbits, you better believe I will have this guide in hand. If you are planning a trip there sometime soon, I whole-heartedly recommend it to you too.

Reading The Silmarillion without this companion is like trying to read in the dark. Tolkien's world is so complex, textured and detailed that you can easily get lost in all the characters, place-names and various events throughout the ages. It's virtually impossible to fully comprehend the events of the first (and even second) age based on the two maps included the The Silmarillion text. Fonstad's tireless work helps add to the realism of the work by giving such detail as the location of Morgoth's nethermost chamber under Thangorodrim and the passageways of Cirith Ungol where Shelob's lair is hidden and even a floor plan of Bag End! In hindsight, I would have paid more to get it. If you're the type of Tolkien reader who likes to go back and re-read the books from time to time, you'll find yourself keeping this handy when you do. Super job!

If someone think this is an illustrated account stretching from Mordor in the east to Hobbitun and the sea in the west, think again. This is an extensive atlas featuring maps and backgroundstory for everything Tolkien wrote!

It¨s put chronologically from the first age until the third age and also chronologically following the events in the Hobbit and Lord of the Rings.

All in all a "must have" for Lord of the Rings-fan.

Other reviewers have pointed out that the graphics are clumsy and that some of the maps are inaccurate. On top of these complaints, I would like to add that the Atlas could be organized a little better.
After seeing the movie I decided to re-read LOTR for the first time in years, and I bought this Atlas to accompany me on the journey. I was disappointed in how the "Lord Of The Rings" section of the Atlas is laid out: you get, for example, a drawing of the Fellowship's "Pathway" to and through Moria somewhere around page 160, while the detailed maps of the internals of Moria are around page 128. Use the store's "Look Inside" feature on the Atlas' Table of Contents to see what I mean.
It seems that the editors did not put enough thought into how a person reading LOTR would want to use the Atlas. I don't know why the editors chose to put the detailed views of significant locations in a separate section. These detailed views should have been mixed in with the non-detailed views using chronological order.

This is another Tolkien related product.However,it's not garbage.
This atlas was full of little pinpoints,mountains,sea level,houses,what happened at the geographic locations,and it has a short summary of what happened during those ages.
This is a must have for any Tolkien reader or for any geographer!

Anyone who has problems following the trails blazed by the characters in Tolkien's books would enjoy this Atlas Of Middle Earth. This book is also great for those who enjoy Tolkien's works on a deeper level and really want to get in their mind's eye who was going where. I think that this book is really well presented and full of details and information.

omg~for any tolkien fan out there, this is a must have! Especially for anyone who is fascinated with the maps already included in the Hobbit, LOTR, and the Silmarillion.

Extensive maps (all based on Tolkien's writings, maps, and illustrations) - for everything from the Spring of Arda and Valinor to the Battle of Helm's Deep. There are maps following everystep of LOTR and the Hobbit - plus a large section on Beleriand and the 1st age~which makes it an indespensible companion to the Silmarillion.

There are a few grey areas here and there - there are bound to be in a world so complex as Tolkien's - which leaves some things to the interpretation and imagination of the reader. I think that's good. (Dr?) Fonstad is wise to leave out those things that are truly dubious, but is intuitive and brilliant in the way she interprets the world of Tolkien. She points out the process she used to come to the conclusions that in the book, which is very helpful.

All in all-this gets 5 1/2 stars-you gotta get this if you like any of Tolkien's works.

All I can say is 'wow'! Fonstad has made the world of J.R.R. Tolkien understandable to almost any who pick up her book. Not only does she give maps and keys, but she gives a full explination of what is going on in the map. She shows regional maps of middle-earth, seperate maps for Gondor and Mordor, not to mention the maps from the Silmarillion, and much more.
I read The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings. I just had to read the Silmarillion after picking up this book so I could be guided through all that was happening.
Once again, Fonstad is wonderful, as a geographer and a cartographer, she has made middle-earth come alive!

In general I agree with the other reviers so I won't repeat their statements here. I'd just like to note two tiny quirks: The Cover design has the wrong runes (obviously the designers looked up the numbers Tolkien gives in the Appendix of the "Lord of the Rings" in the wrong table) and secondly the earth of the world maps is much too small, only half as large as the real earth, which is strange since Tolkien clearly does not describe another planet but an imaginary past of our own planet. So much for Tolkien purism... otherwise it is great.

Yes I know about the errors but isn't to error to be human. I believe on one hand that if you are going thru all the effort to put out an outstanding work such as this you (being author, editor, publisher etc.) would make sure minor typos and wrong names in wrong places would be weeded out before sending off to the consumer. On the other hand I deeply feel that even with errors it falls in line with everything that Tolkien wrote about and stood for. He would have had a chuckle at the thought of an indept work such as this to have been full of the miscues. It is the same with all his characters in his world. He did show the true nature of all his peoples of Middle Earth and their ability to make errors of their own over and over again. So in the end that is not a big problem for me. This work has got to be the must own for anyone who has read and in deed loves the written works and wants more, craves more information. If any of you are like I am then you have read the books (numerous times) but still find things that escape me in this timeline or that history or this persons past... well this great read will help you finally find those answers you are continually looking for. Like one poster said if you are only working with the movies and then crack open this masterpiece... you may be at a loss on much of it. Mainly the early info. from the time of the Valar and such. Overall though I still would say that if you have a love for all things Tolkien then you will not go wrong with getting your stubby Hobbit hands on this work.

Sincerely,

The Gaffer

When I recieved this atlas as a gift last year I was ecstatic. No more rellying on torn, bent, and small front page maps any more.
This is an incredibly comprehensive work. Not only is there a wonderfully clear and easy to read map on nearly every page, but also commentary on how that map relates to the text.
I definetely recommend this to any true Tolkien fan. Lots of detailed building layout maps are also included.

I got this for Hannukah about 2 years ago .I've never been more excited .I actually could visualize thle battles ,see Moria from a birds eye view ,and many more things .Fonstad does not only make the atlas an atlas ,but also summarizes the battles ,the migration of the Elves ,Hobbits ,Dwarves ,and Men .I highly reccomend this to any Tolkien fanatic.

I had the accidental fortune of finding this book a number of years ago (in hardback). A lot of thought obviously went into the book. Ms. Fonstad has brought to light a fresh way to see the Tolkien classics. From Bilbo's journey "There and Back Again", to the travels of the Fellowship members, to exciting battle maps, this will become an indispensable companion when you re-read the Hobbit and TLOTR.

THIS ATLAS HAS MANY GOOD THINGS TO LOOK AT AND A LOT OF USEFUL INFORMATION. I HAVE LOOKED AT ALL THE MAPS AND READ SOME OF THE BOOK. IT TELLS HOW FAR THEY WENT IN ONE DAY AND ANY IMPORTANT THINGS THAT HAPPENED, ALONG WITH GREAT MAPS. AND THE BATTLE MAPS ARE WONDERFUL WITH DETAILS ABOUT HOW MANY MEN,ELVES,ORCS ECT FOR EVERY BATTLE!! IF YOU WANT A DETAILED MAP ALL ABOUT THE JOURNEY, THEN GET THIS BOOK IT IS VERY HELPFUL IN VISUALIZING THE WORLD. TheLoneRoman2002

If your interest is in the Mythology of Middle Earth, this book with its extensive illustrations and commentary increase your understanding of the story. If you are only passing through the Tolkein universe through the guidance of the films by Peter Jackson, you can be brought further understanding of the depth of Dr. Tolkein's masterwork. I hope you purchase the book, and enjoy it as much a I.

This is the best, most essential guide you will ever find on the geography of Middle Earth. Besides the wonderful maps, that make Middle Earth so very clear, the text is very well written, interesting, and poetic. I highly recommend this book to any true Lord of the Rings fan.

A true gem and a masterpiece. The author puts together a wealth of geographical, sociological and historical information from excerpts of Tolkien's work, and does so in a well-structured, easy to read, manner. This book can be used as a reference guide as well as a good night read.

I own a copy in Spanish (my mother tongue) and I'm considering getting an English version too.

I had the accidental fortune of finding this book a number of years ago (in hardback). A lot of thought obviously went into the book. Ms. Fonstad has brought to light a fresh way to see the Tolkien classics. From Bilbo's journey "There and Back Again", to the travels of the Fellowship members, to exciting battle maps, this will become an indispensable companion when you re-read the Hobbit and TLOTR.

THIS ATLAS HAS MANY GOOD THINGS TO LOOK AT AND A LOT OF USEFUL INFORMATION. I HAVE LOOKED AT ALL THE MAPS AND READ SOME OF THE BOOK. IT TELLS HOW FAR THEY WENT IN ONE DAY AND ANY IMPORTANT THINGS THAT HAPPENED, ALONG WITH GREAT MAPS. AND THE BATTLE MAPS ARE WONDERFUL WITH DETAILS ABOUT HOW MANY MEN,ELVES,ORCS ECT FOR EVERY BATTLE!! IF YOU WANT A DETAILED MAP ALL ABOUT THE JOURNEY, THEN GET THIS BOOK IT IS VERY HELPFUL IN VISUALIZING THE WORLD. TheLoneRoman2002

If your interest is in the Mythology of Middle Earth, this book with its extensive illustrations and commentary increase your understanding of the story. If you are only passing through the Tolkein universe through the guidance of the films by Peter Jackson, you can be brought further understanding of the depth of Dr. Tolkein's masterwork. I hope you purchase the book, and enjoy it as much a I.

This is the best, most essential guide you will ever find on the geography of Middle Earth. Besides the wonderful maps, that make Middle Earth so very clear, the text is very well written, interesting, and poetic. I highly recommend this book to any true Lord of the Rings fan.

A true gem and a masterpiece. The author puts together a wealth of geographical, sociological and historical information from excerpts of Tolkien's work, and does so in a well-structured, easy to read, manner. This book can be used as a reference guide as well as a good night read.

I own a copy in Spanish (my mother tongue) and I'm considering getting an English version too.

I got this for my son-in-law who is a Tolken fan. I ordered this from the store, but it was damaged. They did replace it. Thanks to them my son-in-law's Christmas was saved and he really likes it. Kudos to the store.com.

This book includes all the maps in and around middle earth and gives history behind them. The maps are very detailed from The Shire to The Wilderlands to Mordor all is included. This book also is a historical guide to the events before and after the ring that i have not seen in any other LOTR map book. This is must have for any LOTR enthusiast.

Yo tengo este libro,y me ha servido mucho para hacerme una idea los bosques, cavernas y palacios descritos en la saga del SdLA. Incluso tiene planos estrategicos de las batallas (mi favorita es la de los 5 ejercitos). Es una pieza de coleccion para cualquier fanatico de Tolkien.

This is incredible. Not only is the book full of beautiful maps, but they are very accurate and tell the stories through mapping out the routes that bilbo, the dwarves, frodo, gandalf, and even gollum.........

This atlas really helped me see where I was at as I read the Lord of the Rings. I could see how long it took to get from one place to another and how long they were at a single place without having to look it up again.

The reason I only gave it four stars is because it was the work of a fan, and not the actual maps of J.R.R. Tolkien. I was kind of looking for that.

Other than that it was great :P

These maps cover all of Tolkien's world. An absolute must have to truly understand "where's what" in the Lord of the Rings and the Hobbit. Fonstad does an exceptional job at laying out not just maps, but history, battles, geography, climate, ect. This book covers the very beginnings of Tolkein's world, through Middle Earth, and up to the age of men. A very remarkable work.

This book remains, as I noted in my March 15 review (based on an earlier edition), the best available cartographical resource for Tolkien's world available, other than Christopher Tolkien's maps. Unfortunately, this book simply doesn't depict Tolkien's Middle-earth with any appreciable degree of accuracy.
All they did was slap a new cover on a work which is now out-of-date. The practice of reissuing popular Tolkien books and tertiary resources like Fonstad's Atlas of Middle-earth is to be expected, of course, since Peter Jackson's movies are going to drive Tolkien-mania to frenzied heights never before seen.
What is good about this book is the fact that Fonstad makes an effort to chart everything in the stories. You have a quick reference which conveys an idea of who went where, when.
But don't accord this book any real authority. You have to double-check everything Fonstad does in order to see where the errors are. Some of the worst examples are her dual locations for Rhosgobel (the placement south of the Old Forest Road is the correct one, according to "The Ring Goes South" in The Fellowship of the Ring), the placement of Belegost south of the Gulf of Lune (Tolkien said it was at about the same latitude as Lake Nenuial in Unfinished Tales), and her shaving 100 miles off the width of Eriador. The gross error concerning Eriador's width affects all her calculations, including the lengths of journeys for Frodo and Bilbo.
Movements for peoples in the First Age are also inaccurate. The Easterlings entered Beleriand in three waves. The Folk of Ulfang crossed the Ered Luin in the path of the Edain, but the Folk of Bor and later Easterlings passed north around the Ered Luin. This information was published in The War of the Jewels, which Fonstad did not use as a resource. In the Second Age, she ignores Unfinished Tales completely and places Thranduil (the son of Oropher) in northern Greenwood, instead of in the southern part of the forest.
Her depiction of Dale's borders in the Third Age is grossly inaccurate, and Druwaith Iaur is placed to the north of where Christopher Tolkien indicates it should be on his map. Many of these errors, by themselves, are small things. But nearly every map has one or more problems with it. In some cases it's obvious Fonstad's research was superceded by later books she didn't have access to. But some of the gaffes are simply inexplicable. It was my sincere hope the errors would be corrected in this edition. But apparently the publisher just felt a new cover would hide the problems.
Is the book worth buying? Sure. Anyone who wants a quick visual reference to Middle-earth will find this volume invaluable. But if you're planning to use it to win trivia contests or argue with your friends over Tolkien minutiae, pray the other people don't refer to the original books.
Tolkien readers need a new cartographical reference. Hopefully, one will come along some day that doesn't look this bad.

I ordered this book based on not only my love of the Tolkien Universe but on the recommendations of those who have seen it. I am very disappointed with the book. The drawings and text bring nothing of the flavor of Tolkien's World to the page and serve only to remove the beauty of his language from the stories. As a research tool, this book is useless and as a hobbyist's edition, it is not worth the paper it iss printed on. If you are looking for a description of Tolkien's world, head to The History of Middle-Earth as edited by Christopher Tolkien. These provide as much information as the atlas does, and in a way that makes it much more interesting and keeps the imagination alive.

Do *not* buy the kindle version!!! What a rip-off. Maps are useless/impossible to read, and the misspellings are annoying.

It is a horrible rip-off! I love the kindle, and was hoping I could view this on my PC, but it is worthless. Man, I wish I could get my money back!