If you have read the summary version in The Silmarillion , this standalone novel is still highly recommended. Painstakingly compiled by Christopher Tolkien from his father's manuscripts, it provides a "red-blooded retelling" with the narrative density and poetic prose of The Lord of the Rings . It also features stunning color plates by , the famed Middle-earth illustrator. Purchase Options
: Although Tolkien began writing the story in 1918, he never finished a complete version. Christopher Tolkien spent decades compiling and editing his father’s notes to create a coherent, standalone narrative without adding original prose.
Borrow a physical copy from a library first. The atmosphere benefits from the maps and Alan Lee’s art – something a bare PDF can’t replicate.
The "better" PDF experience is defined entirely by the inclusion of Alan Lee’s illustrations. Lee, an Oscar-winning concept designer for the Peter Jackson films, is arguably the definitive interpreter of Middle-earth.