New Novel by J.R.R.Tolkien out soon!

Due for release any day 'The Children of Hurin' - begun by J.R.R.Tolkien some 80 years ago, recently finished by his son Christopher, now 82 years old himself.
It is a more detailed version of the story of Hurin, as told in 'The Simarillion'.

 

awesome.

 

there was a woman in my local library for tolkien reading day, a few days ago and she mentioned this book was coming out. as someone who was weaned on tolkien, i am excited about it.

 

I cannot wait for this.

 

wow. i didnt know that. i guess i am gonna have to go out and find it. =]

 

Holy cow, thats really nice. It's sort of like Douglas Adams' last book...I can't remember what it is called though. Something to do with fish (as usual).

 

Got my copy yesterday - it looks great. I'll get back when I've read it.

 

I got it today. It's pretty good so far.

 

Well, I finished it this afternoon. It's a gripping read, but an unrelentingly grim and bleak tragedy. I only found out when I'd finished it that there's a fold-out map at the back, which would have helped me follow the narrative. Plus point: no hobbitses.

 

Just finished ch.3 - so far absolutely brilliant. Thanks for the tip about the map! I hadn't noticed it, but you're right - as with 'The Silmarillion', the map is very useful to keep track of the action.

 

I just found this out while on Myspace - here's their review. I am excited.


The Children of Húrin

by J.R.R. Tolkien

Novel

A new book by an iconic author who’s been dead for thirty-four years, The Children of Húrin is the work not only of J.R.R. Tolkien, but of his son, Christopher Tolkien. The literary executor of his father’s estate, the younger Tolkien pieced The Children of Húrin together from his father’s unfinished manuscripts, without adding any words of his own. The result is a seamless J.R.R. Tolkien novel that also includes evocative illustrations by Alan Lee, the singularly talented illustrator and conceptual designer behind much of the look of The Lord of the Rings movies.


Another legend of Middle-earth, The Children of Húrin takes place long before the time of The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings, in the days when Morgoth, Sauron’s even more evil forerunner, waged and won a war of aggression. Morgoth’s special nemesis was Húrin, a valiant leader of men, and his children, Túrin, Urwen, and Nïenor. The book begins when Morgoth’s forces enslave Húrin and drive Túrin from his family home. Knowing instinctually that “if in the end we cannot overcome [Morgoth], at least we can hurt him and hinder him,” Túrin travels “long and evil roads” among elves, orcs, dwarves, and men, ever struggling to defeat an omnipotent enemy. Túrin’s transformation from a warm-hearted boy to a righteous and angry man is compelling, as are the emotional and physical journeys of the novel’s other characters. These include the childlike elf Nellas, whom Túrin outgrows along with his innocence, the gentle Aerin, a quiet force for good in the face of great evil, the treacherous Glaurung, a greedy and malodorous dragon, and Húrin’s sisters, Urwen, who dies young of a primitive form of biological warfare, and Nïenor, who appears late in the novel to play an epic, completely out-of-left-field central role.


Like the Odyssey or Beowulf, which inspired Tolkien, The Children of Húrin is an old-fashioned, completely unironic tale of the great deeds of men. It is also as fresh as anything written today, thanks to Tolkien’s unparalled storytelling abilities.

 

i cannot wait to get my hands on that.......