Why We Love Middle-earth: An Enthusiast's Book about Tolkien, Middle-earth, and the LotR Fandom

by Shawn E Marchese, Alan Sisto

Overview

For Fans of the Tales of Tolkien, Middle-earth, and More

"...a great resource for readers and film-viewers who are new to Tolkien and curious about all things Middle-earth.” —Corey Olsen, The Tolkien Professor and president of Signum University

#1 New Release in British & Irish Literary Criticism and Encyclopedias

Learn about the man who wrote The Lord of the Rings in this Middle-earth treasury. Full of answers to common questions asked by readers to learn about Middle-earth and the fandom, this book about Tolkien celebrates Why We Love Middle-earth. 

The Lord of the Rings omnibus for all. Who wrote The Lord of the Rings? What details are in the movies, books, and other stories—and how do they tie together? Intrigued by Amazon’s new show The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power? What’s the story as Tolkien told it? Dive into Middle-earth’s expansive lore with Why We Love Middle-earth, a fandom book about Tolkien’s work.

The perfect companion for any Middle-earth traveler. Written by beloved Tolkien commenters of The Prancing Pony Podcast, Shawn E. Marchese and Alan Sisto, Why We Love Middle-earth is the ultimate guide to the fandom. Newcomers and existing fans of Tolkien will revel in the dragon’s hoard of information inside.

Inside, find:

• A brief history of Tolkien’s creation of Middle-earth, including facts you likely never knew
• A recommended reading order for Tolkien’s major works, and the reasoning behind it
• An introduction to some of the real-world influences that inspired Tolkien
• An overview of some of the most popular branches of the fandom, including adaptations, collecting, languages, and more
• Original illustrations of Middle-earth by illustrator Emily Austin

If you enjoy fandom books or a good book about Tolkien’s works such as Atlas Of Middle-Earth, Recipes from the World of Tolkien, or Why We Love Star Wars, you’ll love Why We Love Middle-earth.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781684812103
Publisher:	Mango Media
Publication date:	09/12/2023
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	426
File size:	11 MB
Note:	This product may take a few minutes to download.

About the Author

Shawn E. Marchese went down the hobbit hole in his teens after finding a reference to Tolkien in a book about Pink Floyd, and has been in love with Middle-earth (and progressive rock) ever since. He’s especially drawn to the linguistic aspects of Tolkien’s work, and shares his obsession for languages with listeners every week as The Prancing Pony Podcast’s resident word-nerd.  Shawn met Alan seven years ago in a Facebook group for Tolkien fans, and still remembers the day he casually agreed to do a podcast with him “like, maybe once a month”. When not working on the podcast, Shawn can be found at his day job as a compliance officer, writing, brewing ales, or working on his geeky dad credentials with his wife and two children. The Prancing Pony Podcast was the winner of the Tolkien Society 2020 Award for Best Online Content.

Alan Sisto has been reading Tolkien since the Rankin & Bass animated Hobbit came out before he was born. Or right after. An all-around Tolkien nerd, Alan can be found enjoying Tolkien’s lesser-known works—“Leaf by Niggle” is his favorite—just as often as he gets lost in First Age histories and Third Age adventures.  Alan has worked with Shawn for nearly six years to grow The Prancing Pony Podcast each season, and spends much of his working time producing the show. He also provides narration and commercial voiceovers (alansisto.com) and has also been an architectural photographer for 15 years (freshpageimages.com). His wife and two children give him the freedom to indulge his inner nerd.  

Read an Excerpt

Chapter 1 The Hobbit

“In a hole in the ground there lived a hobbit. Not a nasty, dirty, wet hole, filled with the ends of worms and an oozy smell, nor yet a dry, bare, sandy hole with nothing in it to sit down on or to eat: it was a hobbit-hole, and that means comfort.”

— J.R.R. Tolkien, The Hobbit, Chapter 1 “An Unexpected Party”

These are the first words of J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Hobbit, and the first words of Tolkien’s writing that many people ever encounter. As the introduction to Middle-earth for many readers, it’s the passage that started many of us lifelong Tolkien fans on the road for our lifelong obsession with Middle-earth — all the way back at the doorstep of Bilbo Baggins, Esq.

And with good reason: they’re the words that introduced the world to Middle-earth when the first edition of The Hobbit was published on September 21, 1937. Not that anyone was calling it “Middle-earth” just yet (we’ll get to that later). Much like the effect these words can have on the individual fan, it’s quite fitting that the introduction of Middle-earth to the world was at Bilbo’s front door, on the precipice of an adventure that would change the life and perspective of this ordinary hobbit forever. 

But we’re getting ahead of ourselves.

The Hobbit is the perfect place to start on one’s journey through Middle-earth, in part because of its accessibility, no matter who you are or when in your life you approach it for the first time. While The Lord of the Rings can be a bit scary and intense for younger readers, and The Silmarillion has been known to make even full-grown adults scratch their heads trying to make sense of the quasi-biblical diction and the arcane Elvish family trees with all their Fingolfins and Finarfins, The Hobbit is aimed squarely at younger readers. Tolkien wrote it with his own children in mind, and read it to his children while it was in development. It was intended for children when it was published, but it remains a favorite for many readers well into adulthood, even among those who read it for the first time as adults. Put another way: long before Harry Potter and Katniss Everdeen were reaching beyond the boundaries of their young adult demographic to appeal to mom, dad, and even the college-aged babysitter, Bilbo Baggins was doing the same.

Table of Contents

Foreword

Prologue: Who Was John Ronald Reuel Tolkien?

Part One: Discovering Tolkien’s Books: What Should I Read Next?

1. The Hobbit
2. The Lord of the Rings
3. The Silmarillion
4. Unfinished Tales
5. The “Great Tales”: The Children of Húrin, Beren & Lúthien, The Fall of Gondolin

Part Two: Tolkien in Adaptation

1. Peter Jackson’s The Lord of the Rings Trilogy
2. Peter Jackson’s The Hobbit Trilogy
3. Ralph Bakshi’s The Lord of the Rings
4. Rankin/Bass’s The Hobbit and The Return of the King
5. BBC Radio Play
6. Video Game Adaptations: The Lord of the Rings Online and many more
7. Audiobooks

Part Three: Expressions of Fandom

1. Collecting Tolkien
2. Tolkien’s Invented Languages
3. Tolkien Studies
4. Art and Artists
5. Fan Organizations
6. Online Content
7. DIY (cosplay, crafting, cooking, brewing)

Editorial Reviews

“Written for new or casual fans, but with material to enlighten those deeply entrenched in Tolkien’s legendarium, Marchese and Sisto (hosts of the podcast Prancing Pony) share insights both scholarly (with ample footnotes) and irreverent (with chapter names like ‘Sequel, Schmequel’ and ‘Ch-ch-ch-ch-Changes: Tolkien in Adaptation’). The book makes suggestions for the best Tolkien reading journey, enumerates high points and shortcomings of adaptations, and discusses collecting, moots (or conferences), and online fandoms. VERDICT A delightful addition to most libraries. Expect an uptick in circulation of other Tolkien-related books and DVDs after purchase.”
—Library Journal

“One could not ask for a more congenial pair of guides to Middle-earth than Alan Sisto and Shawn E. Marchese. The combination of learning and fun that has made The Prancing Pony Podcast such a delight shines through in this tour of the Middle-earth experience. Why We Love Middle-earth is a great resource for readers and film-viewers who are new to Tolkien and curious about all things Middle-earth.”
—Corey Olsen, The Tolkien Professor and president of Signum University

“Alan and Shawn bring the same love for Tolkien and the fandom to this book that they’ve brought to The Prancing Pony Podcast for years. I would expect nothing less, but I can also think of no higher praise.”
—Matt Graf, Nerd of the Rings

“This delightful read is accessible, humorous, and informative, with the appropriate dash of nostalgia. Perfect for both new and veteran Tolkien fans alike, it is sure to entertain, enlighten, and just maybe help you step out your front door and meet other members of the Tolkien community.”
—K.M. Rice, author of the Afterworld series

“An absolutely phenomenal read. Sisto and Marchese perfectly encapsulate the spirit of Tolkien’s legacy and bring it to the page. A heartfelt look at the passion found in the Professor’s stories and why Middle-earth remains such a beloved fantasy world. Tolkien fans of all ages will certainly want to add this book to their collections.”
—Don Marshall, Obscure Lord of the Rings Facts Guy

“You will not find a friendlier, more informative-yet-easygoing introduction to Tolkien’s world than this book. Alan and Shawn are like wisecracking Hobbits, simultaneously goofing off and admiring every song and story shared in Elrond’s Hall of Fire. Come for the groanworthy dad jokes; stay for the deep love of the lore.”
—Jeff LaSala, author of The Silmarillion Primer

“The Prancing Pony Podcast has established itself as an institution among those of us who like to live, breathe, and dream J.R.R. Tolkien’s magnificent Middle-earth legendarium. Approachable yet knowledgeable, fan-friendly yet scholarly, the PPP is one of those rare podcasts that successfully bridges the gap between the absolute Tolkien beginner and the serious devotee. This has clearly also been their intention with this book, and they have definitely succeeded in that aim. Why We Love Middle-earth is an entertaining read, but it also offers in-depth commentary on Tolkien’s works, the various film adaptations, and the fan responses to those works, guiding the novice through approaching the books as well as offering new insights for the serious reader. Maintaining the balance between the disparate audiences is no mean feat, but the result is a delightful and fascinating read that I would heartily recommend to all fans of Middle-earth.”
—Dr. Sara Brown, language & literature department chair, Signum University

“From erudition to entertainment, from comedy to camaraderie, The Prancing Pony Podcast is the Car Talk of Tolkien podcasts. Whether you are a Tolkien beginner or were there 300 episodes ago, Alan and Shawn are always worth listening to. Why We Love Middle-earth is a great introduction to Tolkien and the podcast. By treating the books, adaptations, and fandom individually, Alan and Shawn have once again proven themselves excellent guides for those wanting to enter Middle-earth. (Pre-order now and get a free Gollum GPS.)”
—Thomas Hillman, author of Pity, Power, and Tolkien’s Ring: To Rule the Fate of Many

From the Publisher

12/01/2023

Written for new or casual fans, but with material to enlighten those deeply entrenched in Tolkien's legendarium, Marchese and Sisto (hosts of the podcast Prancing Pony) share insights both scholarly (with ample footnotes) and irreverent (with chapter names like "Sequel, Schmequel" and "Ch-ch-ch-ch-Changes: Tolkien in Adaptation"). The book makes suggestions for the best Tolkien reading journey, enumerates high points and shortcomings of adaptations, and discusses collecting, moots (or conferences), and online fandoms. VERDICT A delightful addition to most libraries. Expect an uptick in circulation of other Tolkien-related books and DVDs after purchase.

Library Journal