The Hobbit (Leatherette Collector's Edition)
by J. R. R. Tolkien
Average Customer Review:
Hardcover (24 October, 1973)
list price: $35.00 -- our price: $22.05
(price subject to change: see help)
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Editorial Review

"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."

The hobbit-hole in question belongs to one Bilbo Baggins, an upstanding member of a "little people, about half our height, and smaller than the bearded dwarves." He is, like most of his kind, well off, well fed, and best pleased when sitting by his own fire with a pipe, a glass of good beer, and a meal to look forward to. Certainly this particular hobbit is the last person one would expect to see set off on a hazardous journey; indeed, when Gandalf the Grey stops by one morning, "looking for someone to share in an adventure," Baggins fervently wishes the wizard elsewhere. No such luck, however; soon 13 fortune-seeking dwarves have arrived on the hobbit's doorstep in search of a burglar, and before he can even grab his hat or an umbrella, Bilbo Baggins is swept out his door and into a dangerous adventure.

The dwarves' goal is to return to their ancestral home in the Lonely Mountains and reclaim a stolen fortune from the dragon Smaug. Along the way, they and their reluctant companion meet giant spiders, hostile elves, ravening wolves--and, most perilous of all, a subterranean creature named Gollum from whom Bilbo wins a magical ring in a riddling contest. It is from this life-or-death game in the dark that J.R.R. Tolkien's masterwork,The Lord of the Rings, would eventually spring. Though The Hobbit is lighter in tone than the trilogy that follows, it has, like Bilbo Baggins himself, unexpected iron at its core. Don't be fooled by its fairy-tale demeanor; this is very much a story for adults, though older children will enjoy it, too. By the time Bilbo returns to his comfortable hobbit-hole, he is a different person altogether, well primed for the bigger adventures to come--and so is the reader. --Alix Wilber ... Read more

Reviews (1432)

Light-years from Harry Potter
"The Hobbit" begins a tale continued in "The Lord of the Rings" and should be read first, it is a gem. How could anyone "review" these timeless fantasy classics? The prose in these books is first-rate, beautifully crafted English language and they should be considered classics. The quality of language use is light-years ahead in style and sheer enjoyment to read than that in the "Harry Potter" books (especially if you're an adult, "Harry Potter"'s writing style is more for kids). "The Hobbit" and "The Lord of the Rings" are the only "real" books on Middle Earth produced by J.R.R. Tolkein in his lifetime. "The Silmarillon" book and some others were gathered together by Christopher Tolkein (the author's son) to make money. There is no plot line, or anything but notes on the "pre-history" of Middle-Earth (the subject of Tolkein's real books) being really a bunch of disjointed random notes. DO NOT BUY if you're expecting a story- Christopher Tolkein is rich enough. The only other common original story book by J.R.R. Tolkein is a collection, "The Tolkein Reader", which is a really good collection of about 4 short stories bound together and fun to read, although different in tone from his other writings. "Farmer Giles of Ham" (the first story in the collection) is great and fun. If you have an 11 to 14 year old who likes to read, make sure they don't miss out on "The Hobbit" and "The Lord of the Rings" in their childhood. The books have incredible detail, are full of sunshine, wonder, drama, humor, and fun- as well as being serious also, like the more brooding and hurried-up blockbuster movies. Get your kids reading them at 11 to 14 years of age, like I did. The books remain a pleasant memory to me 30 years later, ranking up there with "Treasure Island" and "The Call of the Wild" in my boyhood memory. ONE CAVEAT: "The Hobbit" is often referred to as a children's story (I read it at 12 years) while "The Lord of the Rings" is often referred to as for adults (I read it as a 13-14 year-old, and it was perfect).

The Hobbit !The Best Book I have ever read!
The Hobbit is completely my favourite book of all time. When I was 6 I listened to the tape and since then I have probably read the book 583 times. It has a superp story line which none absoulutely none of the several 100 other books I have read since can compare with. Okay Artemis Fowl was pretty good, well actually very good and so were the Harry Potter books but what other books can claim they have. A great storyline, Wizards, a hero who dosen't want to be one, Elves, Dragons and a richly satisfying ending? If there is a book I would really like to hear about it.

The hero is the loveable character called Bilbo Baggins. He is of course a hobbit. As i'm sure pretty much every one knows what a hobbit is but for the benefit of the people who do not the foggiest idea what a hobbit is I will type the books explaination .

If you have read the book don't bother reading this explanation if you don't wan't to.

They are (or were) a little people, about half our height, and smaller than the bearded dwarves. Hobbits have no beards. There is little or no magic about them, except the ordinary everyday sort which helps them to disappear quietly and quickly when large stupid folk like you or me come blundering along, making a noise like elephants which they can hear a mile off. They are inclined to be fat in the stomach; they dress in bright colours (chiefly green and yellow); wear no shoes, because their feet grow natural leathery soles and thick warm brown hair like the stuff on their heads (which is curly); have long clever brown fingers, good- natured faces, and a laugh deep fruity laughs (especially after dinner, which they have twice a day when they can get it).

Many people say they prefer the hobbit to the Lord Of The Rings for two simple reasons.

1) It is easier to read and a lot less complicated.

2) It has a better story line.

The hobbit is absoulutely fantastic! Any adults who haven't read this book need to read it or deserve to be PUNISHED!

As for the people who rate this book below 5 stars they probably didn't read this book well enough or haven't read it at all.

In conclusion

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!BUY THIS BOOK NOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Even better than LOTR
Many fans of both The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings will tell you something like, "The Hobbit tells you some stuff you'll need to know when reading LOTR, but it really plays second fiddle to the ULTIMATE fantasy that LOTR is."In my opinion, this simply isn't true.While LOTR focuses on a grand and epic battle encompassing Middle Earth in its entirety, The Hobbit is a more romantic tale - focusing on a single quest and taking its time to storytell.Its simple "there and back again" feel and lighter mood make it one of my favorite novels. ... Read more

Isbn: 0395177111
Subjects:  1. Children: Young Adult (Gr. 7-9)    2. Classics    3. Fairy tales    4. Fantasy    5. Fantasy - Epic    6. Fantasy - Series    7. Fiction    8. Fiction - Fantasy    9. Juvenile Fiction    10. Middle Earth (Imaginary place)    11. Juvenile Fiction / Science Fiction, Fantasy, Magic   

The Hobbit: Or There and Back Again
by J. R. R. Tolkien
Average Customer Review:
Hardcover (November, 1987)
list price: $29.95
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Editorial Review

"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."

The hobbit-hole in question belongs to one Bilbo Baggins, an upstanding member of a "little people, about half our height, and smaller than the bearded dwarves." He is, like most of his kind, well off, well fed, and best pleased when sitting by his own fire with a pipe, a glass of good beer, and a meal to look forward to. Certainly this particular hobbit is the last person one would expect to see set off on a hazardous journey; indeed, when Gandalf the Grey stops by one morning, "looking for someone to share in an adventure," Baggins fervently wishes the wizard elsewhere. No such luck, however; soon 13 fortune-seeking dwarves have arrived on the hobbit's doorstep in search of a burglar, and before he can even grab his hat or an umbrella, Bilbo Baggins is swept out his door and into a dangerous adventure.

The dwarves' goal is to return to their ancestral home in the Lonely Mountains and reclaim a stolen fortune from the dragon Smaug. Along the way, they and their reluctant companion meet giant spiders, hostile elves, ravening wolves--and, most perilous of all, a subterranean creature named Gollum from whom Bilbo wins a magical ring in a riddling contest. It is from this life-or-death game in the dark that J.R.R. Tolkien's masterwork,The Lord of the Rings, would eventually spring. Though The Hobbit is lighter in tone than the trilogy that follows, it has, like Bilbo Baggins himself, unexpected iron at its core. Don't be fooled by its fairy-tale demeanor; this is very much a story for adults, though older children will enjoy it, too. By the time Bilbo returns to his comfortable hobbit-hole, he is a different person altogether, well primed for the bigger adventures to come--and so is the reader. --Alix Wilber ... Read more

Reviews (1432)

Light-years from Harry Potter
"The Hobbit" begins a tale continued in "The Lord of the Rings" and should be read first, it is a gem. How could anyone "review" these timeless fantasy classics? The prose in these books is first-rate, beautifully crafted English language and they should be considered classics. The quality of language use is light-years ahead in style and sheer enjoyment to read than that in the "Harry Potter" books (especially if you're an adult, "Harry Potter"'s writing style is more for kids). "The Hobbit" and "The Lord of the Rings" are the only "real" books on Middle Earth produced by J.R.R. Tolkein in his lifetime. "The Silmarillon" book and some others were gathered together by Christopher Tolkein (the author's son) to make money. There is no plot line, or anything but notes on the "pre-history" of Middle-Earth (the subject of Tolkein's real books) being really a bunch of disjointed random notes. DO NOT BUY if you're expecting a story- Christopher Tolkein is rich enough. The only other common original story book by J.R.R. Tolkein is a collection, "The Tolkein Reader", which is a really good collection of about 4 short stories bound together and fun to read, although different in tone from his other writings. "Farmer Giles of Ham" (the first story in the collection) is great and fun. If you have an 11 to 14 year old who likes to read, make sure they don't miss out on "The Hobbit" and "The Lord of the Rings" in their childhood. The books have incredible detail, are full of sunshine, wonder, drama, humor, and fun- as well as being serious also, like the more brooding and hurried-up blockbuster movies. Get your kids reading them at 11 to 14 years of age, like I did. The books remain a pleasant memory to me 30 years later, ranking up there with "Treasure Island" and "The Call of the Wild" in my boyhood memory. ONE CAVEAT: "The Hobbit" is often referred to as a children's story (I read it at 12 years) while "The Lord of the Rings" is often referred to as for adults (I read it as a 13-14 year-old, and it was perfect).

The Hobbit !The Best Book I have ever read!
The Hobbit is completely my favourite book of all time. When I was 6 I listened to the tape and since then I have probably read the book 583 times. It has a superp story line which none absoulutely none of the several 100 other books I have read since can compare with. Okay Artemis Fowl was pretty good, well actually very good and so were the Harry Potter books but what other books can claim they have. A great storyline, Wizards, a hero who dosen't want to be one, Elves, Dragons and a richly satisfying ending? If there is a book I would really like to hear about it.

The hero is the loveable character called Bilbo Baggins. He is of course a hobbit. As i'm sure pretty much every one knows what a hobbit is but for the benefit of the people who do not the foggiest idea what a hobbit is I will type the books explaination .

If you have read the book don't bother reading this explanation if you don't wan't to.

They are (or were) a little people, about half our height, and smaller than the bearded dwarves. Hobbits have no beards. There is little or no magic about them, except the ordinary everyday sort which helps them to disappear quietly and quickly when large stupid folk like you or me come blundering along, making a noise like elephants which they can hear a mile off. They are inclined to be fat in the stomach; they dress in bright colours (chiefly green and yellow); wear no shoes, because their feet grow natural leathery soles and thick warm brown hair like the stuff on their heads (which is curly); have long clever brown fingers, good- natured faces, and a laugh deep fruity laughs (especially after dinner, which they have twice a day when they can get it).

Many people say they prefer the hobbit to the Lord Of The Rings for two simple reasons.

1) It is easier to read and a lot less complicated.

2) It has a better story line.

The hobbit is absoulutely fantastic! Any adults who haven't read this book need to read it or deserve to be PUNISHED!

As for the people who rate this book below 5 stars they probably didn't read this book well enough or haven't read it at all.

In conclusion

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!BUY THIS BOOK NOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Even better than LOTR
Many fans of both The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings will tell you something like, "The Hobbit tells you some stuff you'll need to know when reading LOTR, but it really plays second fiddle to the ULTIMATE fantasy that LOTR is."In my opinion, this simply isn't true.While LOTR focuses on a grand and epic battle encompassing Middle Earth in its entirety, The Hobbit is a more romantic tale - focusing on a single quest and taking its time to storytell.Its simple "there and back again" feel and lighter mood make it one of my favorite novels. ... Read more

Isbn: 0395454026
Subjects:  1. Classics    2. Fantasy - Epic    3. Fiction - Fantasy   

The Hobbit (BBC Radio Presents; 5 CDs)
by J.R.R. TOLKIEN
Average Customer Review:
Audio CD (10 November, 1997)
list price: $39.95 -- our price: $25.17
(price subject to change: see help)
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Features

• Abridged

Reviews (47)

Not the best, but still enjoyable
I greatly enjoyed the BBC presentation of Lord of the Rings, so figured I'd buy this one as well. Sadly, it is not nearly as good. The sound effects are painful to listen to at times, pronounciation is hard to follow and often incorrect, and the voice of the characters can sometimes be hard to follow. Gandalf for instance does not at all sound like I would expect him to! The way Bilbo interjects comments during parts of the narration seems a bit odd as well, but I did think the actor did a nice job with him at least. I think someone not familiar with the book would have a very hard time following the story, but for Tolkien fans, it's harmless fun at least.

Worthwhile listening to
The story itself is on four CDs, the fifth CD contains several songs.This audio production won't replace reading the book, but may serve as an overview of the book. The sound effects at times seem a bit overdone - you'll hear a lot of huffing and puffing.As a previous reviewer noted, children may enjoy this set of CDs more than adults and the sound effects can help to hold their attention.Gollum sounds rather spooky, and Bilbo sounds as if he were out of breath most of the time.

Wonderful memories - glad to have on CD
Back in the late 1970's, in an era when radio drama was disappearing from public radio, the American prodcution of "The Lord of the Rings" and "The Hobbit" were created with a full cast of voice actors along with music and sound effects.Reminiscent of the radio dramas of the 1940's and 50's, these productions were usually aired on Sunday afternoons, when a family could listen and enjoy the week's story.Released on Jabberwocky Audio on cassette tapes, I remember the Christmas when I received the entire collection of Jabberwocky's stories on tape.From "The Hobbit" to "Alice in Wonderland" to "The Red Badge of Courage," all were classic tales.They even re-released on cassette some of the original radio productions, such as "War of the Worlds" and "The Gift of the Magi."These stories were designed to get the listener interested and promote reading the books the productions were based on.They were not designed for an adult audience, but rather for children and families to share.Wonderfully edited and masterfully performed, many modern audiences find these old productions a little silly or even perhaps dated, but play it for a child, and they will listen in rapture, just as I did 25 years ago when they were new.Of all my collection of the Jabberwocky tapes, "The Hobbit" and "The Lord of the Rings" are the only ones that I have trouble playing today, because they have been played so many times over the years that they are worn out.We would play them in the car on road trips, I would play them in my room while putting together a puzzle, and I played them for my friends, who enjoyed them as much as I did.I am delighted to have it on CD to listen to over and over again.At seven years of age, I had not yet read the books when I first listened to the tapes.But the tapes were perfect for a small girl just getting interested in reading.If only all the rest of the old radio dramas were also on CD!I would buy them all.It was unfortunate to come to this website and see the poor reviews written by people who have no understanding of the history of the production or what demographic it was originally intended for.I look forward to the day when I can play these CD's for my own children and see the wonder and delight in their faces when they hear the same stories that I grew up with. ... Read more

Isbn: 0553455621
Sales Rank: 137796
Subjects:  1. Audio - Literature / Classics    2. Audio: Juvenile    3. Children's audiobooks    4. Classics    5. Fantasy    6. Fantasy - Epic    7. Fiction    8. Middle Earth (Imaginary place)    9. Fiction / Fantasy / General    10. Audiobooks    11. CD-LITERATURE/CLASSICS    12. Fantasy - Historical   

Poems from The Hobbit
by J. R. R. Tolkien
Average Customer Review:
Hardcover (December, 1999)
list price: $5.95 -- our price: $5.95
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Reviews (7)

A charming addition to your Tolkien collection.
This pint-sized, delightful book, richly and colorfully illustrated with thirty of Tolkien's own drawings, contains all twelve poems from the Hobbit as they were originally published. As a bonus, it also includes the eight riddles Gollum poses to Bilbo, complete with their answers.
This wonderful volume is sure to be enjoyable to readers of all ages, and a wonderful keepsake that Tolkien followers can afford to carry around with them wherever they go. You shouldn't miss it.

Not what I expected...
Mister Tolkien is one of my favorite authors, and I love all of his works.I enjoyed this book because it contains all of the poems and some original artwork of Tolkien's, but I was slightly disappointed by the size.I was surprised at just how 'pocket size' it really was - almost a miniature book, you could say.It is a cute and witty addition to any Tolkien collection, but, like I said, not what I expected.

Tolkien is The Master Story-Teller....he created the genre
The writings of Professor Tolkien are absolutely Timeless.These books are the gauge by-which all Fantasy books are measured.The Hobbit and The Trilogy have been the Inspiration for decades of works by other authors, yet I have not ever seen these works surpassed by anyone.Terry Brooks is the only author I have read who even compares to J.R.R. Tolkien and his epic style.I became fascinated with The Hobbit and Trilogy when I was in the seventh grade. I borrowed them from a friend and snuck them home. I was completely enthralled with the world Tolkien created.I was not allowed to read anything that was even remotely related to Wizards, Witches, Astrology, D&D, etc., so these books were like nothing I had ever seen, before.I was captivated and felt the call to become a Writer.Previously, the poetry and such that we were studying in school BORED me to tears.I found my schooling to be mind-numbingly BORING and Tolkien became my Inspiration to Learn, create Poetry, Write stories, Study, become an Anthropologist, delve into Masonic Lore and so much more....Throughout High-School, I had pictures of Prof. Tolkien on my wall and I desired to be like him.Not-only was he the Greatest Fantasy Writer the world has known, but he was "Professor of Anglo-Saxon, at Oxford University, from 1925 to 1945....and professor of English Language and Literature....and a Fellow of Merton College from '45 to his retirement in '59."Check out his translations of (book title:)"Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, Pearl, and Sir Orfeo" (J.R.R. Tolkien)Also, Prof. Tolkien wrote wonderful stories like "Smith of Wooten Major (&) Farmer Giles of Ham" for children. Pop those titles into the search box! I can honestly say that reading Tolkien changed my life...for the Better! Tolkien created the highest standards of writing for generations of authors....I am quite sure he would be deeply disappointed with the majority of books published today, with numerous spelling errors and pathetic grammar.I believe Tolkien is a god-send to English teachers. Perhaps, he can still inspire young people to elevate their Writing and English skills, from beyond. I would fight to keep his works on the shelves. I was not allowed to do my Senior Thesis about this author, despite the fact that he is such an amazing author and advocate of Literature.I lost interest in doing my thesis and threw something together at the last minute.Perhaps teachers should Recognize the potential for inspiring youth, via the works of J.R.R. Tolkien. ... Read more

Isbn: 0618009345
Sales Rank: 330107
Subjects:  1. 20th Century English Poetry    2. English, Irish, Scottish, Welsh    3. Fantasy - General    4. Fantasy poetry, English    5. Fiction    6. Inspirational - Gifts    7. Middle Earth (Imaginary place)    8. Miniature books    9. Poetry    10. Specimens    11. Tolkien, J. R. R. (John Ronald Reuel), 1892-1973    12. Fiction / Fantasy / General   

The Annotated Hobbit
by J.R.R. Tolkien, Douglas A. Anderson (Editor)
Average Customer Review:
Hardcover (16 August, 2002)
list price: $28.00 -- our price: $17.64
(price subject to change: see help)
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Reviews (25)

Most of the annotations are wasted.
This is my third "Annotated" book -- following The Annotated Alice and Annotated Fairy Tales -- and while The Hobbit itself is great, the majority of the annotations add no value to the story as they merely mark where a word or two was changed between editions.Unfortunately, there's so many of them that they frequently appear a couple of pages after they're noted so you have to turn forward to find out that "South" was changed to "Southwest" and then you've broken the flow of the story.The Hobbit itself is a great read-aloud story and some of the annotations are surprising and interesting... but the mundane and boring annotations really weigh the book down compared to the annotations in Alice or Fairy Tales.

Very good supplement to a landmark book.
`The Annotated Hobbit', annotated by bookseller Douglas A. Anderson is published by J.R.R. Tolkien's American publisher, Houghton Mifflin (important because it means the cover of this book uses the same art as the cover of the most popular hard-covered American edition of the Hobbit, published in the 1960's).

Let me be perfectly clear that this is first and foremost a review of the Annotation, not of the novel, `The Hobbit' itself. I have an almost reverential respect for the original novel, having bought my first copy of this work on a cold February day in 1965 in the Lehigh University bookstore. I began reading it on the bus on the way home from my college classes at about 1:00 PM, and simply could not put it down. I finished reading it at about 8:30 that evening. The experience is not unlike some cinematic versions of experiences like Dorothy's opening the door of her Kansas house to step out onto the grass of Oz. I am totally unsurprised by a statement in this annotation that says that the entire first page of `The Hobbit' has been reproduced in `Bartlett's Familiar Quotations'. There are few more magical or evocative openings to novels I have read in my whole life. And, while I can appreciate that there are adult readers, my Hemingway loving uncle being one of them, who simply `don't get it', I am often driven to the point of dispair when I can't interest young readers or listeners in `The Hobbit'. Like `Winnie the Pooh' and `Alice in Wonderland', I really think these are books designed much more to bring back memories of childhood in adults than to engage young readers. And oh how much I enjoy reading `The Hobbit' aloud!

But back to this Annotation'. Like similar annotations to works of fiction such as `Alice in Wonderland' and the Arthur Conan Doyle stories of Sherlock Holmes, there are four different subjects for annotation. One is internal; where names and events are cross-referenced to other parts of the work to explain, elaborate, resolve, or point out inconsistencies. The second is external, where correspondences can be made to sources or, in the case of Conan Doyle or Carroll, events of the day that may have found their way into the fiction. The third is references to the author's unpublished notes and letters. Tolkien's works should be rich sources for all three types of annotation, as the world of `The Hobbit' and `The Lord of the Rings' is based on an enormous body of Norse, Celtic, and Teutonic mythology, fable, and epic literature. Also, standing behind `The Hobbit' is the great events of `The Lord of the Rings', `The Silmarillion', and over twelve volumes of Tolkien writings compiled and annotated by Christopher Tolkien.

So why are the annotations in this volume so sparse? The author certainly does not limit himself to only one kind of annotation. There are examples of all three references to other Tolkien works, notes and letters, and other sources. The author does give us lots of illustrations of scenes from `The Hobbit' published in translations of the work from around the world. There are also a few illustrations from books that certainly influenced Tolkien, such as `The Marvelous Land of Snergs'. The one thing that all these illustrations tell me is that, on average, they are not very good, oriented primarily towards a children's audience rather than some of the more heroic art familiar to us from modern fantasy illustrators. It seems to me a lost opportunity also to not include Tolkien's own color illustrations for `The Hobbit', as they appeared on the very first `Tolkien' calendar in, I believe 1966 or 1967.

I will give just a few illustrations of where I think the author may have disappointed his readers. By far the most interesting character in `The Hobbit' next to Bilbo and Gandalf is Smaug. And yet, the book has next to nothing to say about the fictional antecedents of that delightfully cagey old worm. One of my only fond memories of the rather insipid cartoon version of `The Hobbit' done several decades ago is the gravely voice of Smaug done by Paladin himself, Richard Boone. If you couldn't get John Huston, then Boone was certainly the next best thing. To the whole conversation between Bilbo and Smaug, there are but two notes regarding Smaug and dragons. At least we get a reference about the source of Smaug's name, a primitive Germanic verb, `smugan' meaning to squeeze through a hole. Tolkien confessed that this was `a low philological jest'. In the wider story culminating in the great events of `The Lord of the Rings' coming at the end of the Third Age, it is much more important to Gandalf to remove this great dragon from the field so Sauron could not use him as a weapon in the War of the Rings than it was to restore a small band of dwarves to their treasures. The book has practically nothing to say about this, or the fact that the character of the `necromancer' who takes up residence at the southwestern tip of Mirkwood forest is actually either the leader of the Nazgul or Sauron himself.

I keep thinking, as I turn each page of ample, empty white margins, all the things that could have been included.

In balance, this is not a bad book or even a poor purchase, especially if, like me, you simply must have a copy of every different version of Tolkien's works imaginable. It has a very nice bibliography and an Appendix of all textual changes between the 1937 and 1966 editions. For those notes it does have, it is great as a version to read to children where you can record your own notes with answers to their questions.

A Beautiful Version of J.R.R. Tolkien's The Hobbit
This beautiful version of Tolkien's The Hobbit is one of the best versions you can get of this book. The annotations and commentary of information make this a must for Tolien fans. The artwork of some artists and Tolkien himself is beautiful. I giive it a Two Thumbs up.
... Read more

Isbn: 0618134700
Sales Rank: 99785
Subjects:  1. Classics    2. Fantasy    3. Fantasy - Epic    4. Fantasy - General    5. Fantasy fiction    6. Fiction    7. Literature - Classics / Criticism    8. Middle Earth (Imaginary place)    9. Fiction / Fantasy / General   

The Hobbit (Illustrated Edition)
by J.R.R. Tolkien, Alan Lee
Average Customer Review:
Hardcover (September, 1997)
list price: $35.00 -- our price: $22.05
(price subject to change: see help)
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Editorial Review

"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."

The hobbit-hole in question belongs to one Bilbo Baggins, an upstanding member of a "little people, about half our height, and smaller than the bearded dwarves." He is, like most of his kind, well off, well fed, and best pleased when sitting by his own fire with a pipe, a glass of good beer, and a meal to look forward to. Certainly this particular hobbit is the last person one would expect to see set off on a hazardous journey; indeed, when Gandalf the Grey stops by one morning, "looking for someone to share in an adventure," Baggins fervently wishes the wizard elsewhere. No such luck, however; soon 13 fortune-seeking dwarves have arrived on the hobbit's doorstep in search of a burglar, and before he can even grab his hat or an umbrella, Bilbo Baggins is swept out his door and into a dangerous adventure.

The dwarves' goal is to return to their ancestral home in the Lonely Mountains and reclaim a stolen fortune from the dragon Smaug. Along the way, they and their reluctant companion meet giant spiders, hostile elves, ravening wolves--and, most perilous of all, a subterranean creature named Gollum from whom Bilbo wins a magical ring in a riddling contest. It is from this life-or-death game in the dark that J.R.R. Tolkien's masterwork,The Lord of the Rings, would eventually spring. Though The Hobbit is lighter in tone than the trilogy that follows, it has, like Bilbo Baggins himself, unexpected iron at its core. Don't be fooled by its fairy-tale demeanor; this is very much a story for adults, though older children will enjoy it, too. By the time Bilbo returns to his comfortable hobbit-hole, he is a different person altogether, well primed for the bigger adventures to come--and so is the reader. --Alix Wilber ... Read more

Reviews (1432)

Light-years from Harry Potter
"The Hobbit" begins a tale continued in "The Lord of the Rings" and should be read first, it is a gem. How could anyone "review" these timeless fantasy classics? The prose in these books is first-rate, beautifully crafted English language and they should be considered classics. The quality of language use is light-years ahead in style and sheer enjoyment to read than that in the "Harry Potter" books (especially if you're an adult, "Harry Potter"'s writing style is more for kids). "The Hobbit" and "The Lord of the Rings" are the only "real" books on Middle Earth produced by J.R.R. Tolkein in his lifetime. "The Silmarillon" book and some others were gathered together by Christopher Tolkein (the author's son) to make money. There is no plot line, or anything but notes on the "pre-history" of Middle-Earth (the subject of Tolkein's real books) being really a bunch of disjointed random notes. DO NOT BUY if you're expecting a story- Christopher Tolkein is rich enough. The only other common original story book by J.R.R. Tolkein is a collection, "The Tolkein Reader", which is a really good collection of about 4 short stories bound together and fun to read, although different in tone from his other writings. "Farmer Giles of Ham" (the first story in the collection) is great and fun. If you have an 11 to 14 year old who likes to read, make sure they don't miss out on "The Hobbit" and "The Lord of the Rings" in their childhood. The books have incredible detail, are full of sunshine, wonder, drama, humor, and fun- as well as being serious also, like the more brooding and hurried-up blockbuster movies. Get your kids reading them at 11 to 14 years of age, like I did. The books remain a pleasant memory to me 30 years later, ranking up there with "Treasure Island" and "The Call of the Wild" in my boyhood memory. ONE CAVEAT: "The Hobbit" is often referred to as a children's story (I read it at 12 years) while "The Lord of the Rings" is often referred to as for adults (I read it as a 13-14 year-old, and it was perfect).

The Hobbit !The Best Book I have ever read!
The Hobbit is completely my favourite book of all time. When I was 6 I listened to the tape and since then I have probably read the book 583 times. It has a superp story line which none absoulutely none of the several 100 other books I have read since can compare with. Okay Artemis Fowl was pretty good, well actually very good and so were the Harry Potter books but what other books can claim they have. A great storyline, Wizards, a hero who dosen't want to be one, Elves, Dragons and a richly satisfying ending? If there is a book I would really like to hear about it.

The hero is the loveable character called Bilbo Baggins. He is of course a hobbit. As i'm sure pretty much every one knows what a hobbit is but for the benefit of the people who do not the foggiest idea what a hobbit is I will type the books explaination .

If you have read the book don't bother reading this explanation if you don't wan't to.

They are (or were) a little people, about half our height, and smaller than the bearded dwarves. Hobbits have no beards. There is little or no magic about them, except the ordinary everyday sort which helps them to disappear quietly and quickly when large stupid folk like you or me come blundering along, making a noise like elephants which they can hear a mile off. They are inclined to be fat in the stomach; they dress in bright colours (chiefly green and yellow); wear no shoes, because their feet grow natural leathery soles and thick warm brown hair like the stuff on their heads (which is curly); have long clever brown fingers, good- natured faces, and a laugh deep fruity laughs (especially after dinner, which they have twice a day when they can get it).

Many people say they prefer the hobbit to the Lord Of The Rings for two simple reasons.

1) It is easier to read and a lot less complicated.

2) It has a better story line.

The hobbit is absoulutely fantastic! Any adults who haven't read this book need to read it or deserve to be PUNISHED!

As for the people who rate this book below 5 stars they probably didn't read this book well enough or haven't read it at all.

In conclusion

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!BUY THIS BOOK NOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Even better than LOTR
Many fans of both The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings will tell you something like, "The Hobbit tells you some stuff you'll need to know when reading LOTR, but it really plays second fiddle to the ULTIMATE fantasy that LOTR is."In my opinion, this simply isn't true.While LOTR focuses on a grand and epic battle encompassing Middle Earth in its entirety, The Hobbit is a more romantic tale - focusing on a single quest and taking its time to storytell.Its simple "there and back again" feel and lighter mood make it one of my favorite novels. ... Read more

Isbn: 0395873460
Subjects:  1. Children: Grades 4-6    2. Classics    3. Fantasy    4. Fantasy - Epic    5. Fiction    6. Fiction - Fantasy    7. Juvenile Fiction    8. Middle Earth (Imaginary place)    9. Juvenile Fiction / Science Fiction, Fantasy, Magic   

The Hobbit (Illustrated Edition)
by J.R.R. Tolkien, Michael Hague
Average Customer Review:
Hardcover (October, 1984)
list price: $29.95 -- our price: $19.77
(price subject to change: see help)
US | Canada | United Kingdom | Germany | France

Editorial Review

"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."

The hobbit-hole in question belongs to one Bilbo Baggins, an upstanding member of a "little people, about half our height, and smaller than the bearded dwarves." He is, like most of his kind, well off, well fed, and best pleased when sitting by his own fire with a pipe, a glass of good beer, and a meal to look forward to. Certainly this particular hobbit is the last person one would expect to see set off on a hazardous journey; indeed, when Gandalf the Grey stops by one morning, "looking for someone to share in an adventure," Baggins fervently wishes the wizard elsewhere. No such luck, however; soon 13 fortune-seeking dwarves have arrived on the hobbit's doorstep in search of a burglar, and before he can even grab his hat or an umbrella, Bilbo Baggins is swept out his door and into a dangerous adventure.

The dwarves' goal is to return to their ancestral home in the Lonely Mountains and reclaim a stolen fortune from the dragon Smaug. Along the way, they and their reluctant companion meet giant spiders, hostile elves, ravening wolves--and, most perilous of all, a subterranean creature named Gollum from whom Bilbo wins a magical ring in a riddling contest. It is from this life-or-death game in the dark that J.R.R. Tolkien's masterwork,The Lord of the Rings, would eventually spring. Though The Hobbit is lighter in tone than the trilogy that follows, it has, like Bilbo Baggins himself, unexpected iron at its core. Don't be fooled by its fairy-tale demeanor; this is very much a story for adults, though older children will enjoy it, too. By the time Bilbo returns to his comfortable hobbit-hole, he is a different person altogether, well primed for the bigger adventures to come--and so is the reader. --Alix Wilber ... Read more

Reviews (1432)

Light-years from Harry Potter
"The Hobbit" begins a tale continued in "The Lord of the Rings" and should be read first, it is a gem. How could anyone "review" these timeless fantasy classics? The prose in these books is first-rate, beautifully crafted English language and they should be considered classics. The quality of language use is light-years ahead in style and sheer enjoyment to read than that in the "Harry Potter" books (especially if you're an adult, "Harry Potter"'s writing style is more for kids). "The Hobbit" and "The Lord of the Rings" are the only "real" books on Middle Earth produced by J.R.R. Tolkein in his lifetime. "The Silmarillon" book and some others were gathered together by Christopher Tolkein (the author's son) to make money. There is no plot line, or anything but notes on the "pre-history" of Middle-Earth (the subject of Tolkein's real books) being really a bunch of disjointed random notes. DO NOT BUY if you're expecting a story- Christopher Tolkein is rich enough. The only other common original story book by J.R.R. Tolkein is a collection, "The Tolkein Reader", which is a really good collection of about 4 short stories bound together and fun to read, although different in tone from his other writings. "Farmer Giles of Ham" (the first story in the collection) is great and fun. If you have an 11 to 14 year old who likes to read, make sure they don't miss out on "The Hobbit" and "The Lord of the Rings" in their childhood. The books have incredible detail, are full of sunshine, wonder, drama, humor, and fun- as well as being serious also, like the more brooding and hurried-up blockbuster movies. Get your kids reading them at 11 to 14 years of age, like I did. The books remain a pleasant memory to me 30 years later, ranking up there with "Treasure Island" and "The Call of the Wild" in my boyhood memory. ONE CAVEAT: "The Hobbit" is often referred to as a children's story (I read it at 12 years) while "The Lord of the Rings" is often referred to as for adults (I read it as a 13-14 year-old, and it was perfect).

The Hobbit !The Best Book I have ever read!
The Hobbit is completely my favourite book of all time. When I was 6 I listened to the tape and since then I have probably read the book 583 times. It has a superp story line which none absoulutely none of the several 100 other books I have read since can compare with. Okay Artemis Fowl was pretty good, well actually very good and so were the Harry Potter books but what other books can claim they have. A great storyline, Wizards, a hero who dosen't want to be one, Elves, Dragons and a richly satisfying ending? If there is a book I would really like to hear about it.

The hero is the loveable character called Bilbo Baggins. He is of course a hobbit. As i'm sure pretty much every one knows what a hobbit is but for the benefit of the people who do not the foggiest idea what a hobbit is I will type the books explaination .

If you have read the book don't bother reading this explanation if you don't wan't to.

They are (or were) a little people, about half our height, and smaller than the bearded dwarves. Hobbits have no beards. There is little or no magic about them, except the ordinary everyday sort which helps them to disappear quietly and quickly when large stupid folk like you or me come blundering along, making a noise like elephants which they can hear a mile off. They are inclined to be fat in the stomach; they dress in bright colours (chiefly green and yellow); wear no shoes, because their feet grow natural leathery soles and thick warm brown hair like the stuff on their heads (which is curly); have long clever brown fingers, good- natured faces, and a laugh deep fruity laughs (especially after dinner, which they have twice a day when they can get it).

Many people say they prefer the hobbit to the Lord Of The Rings for two simple reasons.

1) It is easier to read and a lot less complicated.

2) It has a better story line.

The hobbit is absoulutely fantastic! Any adults who haven't read this book need to read it or deserve to be PUNISHED!

As for the people who rate this book below 5 stars they probably didn't read this book well enough or haven't read it at all.

In conclusion

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!BUY THIS BOOK NOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Even better than LOTR
Many fans of both The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings will tell you something like, "The Hobbit tells you some stuff you'll need to know when reading LOTR, but it really plays second fiddle to the ULTIMATE fantasy that LOTR is."In my opinion, this simply isn't true.While LOTR focuses on a grand and epic battle encompassing Middle Earth in its entirety, The Hobbit is a more romantic tale - focusing on a single quest and taking its time to storytell.Its simple "there and back again" feel and lighter mood make it one of my favorite novels. ... Read more

Isbn: 0395362903
Subjects:  1. 20th Century English Novel And Short Story    2. Children: Young Adult (Gr. 7-9)    3. Classics    4. Fairy tales    5. Fantasy    6. Fantasy - Epic    7. Fiction    8. Fiction - Fantasy    9. Juvenile Fiction    10. Middle Earth (Imaginary place)    11. Juvenile Fiction / Science Fiction, Fantasy, Magic   

The Hobbit
by J.R.R. Tolkien
Average Customer Review:
Paperback (29 May, 2001)
list price: $15.95 -- our price: $10.85
(price subject to change: see help)
US | Canada | United Kingdom | Germany | France

Editorial Review

"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."

The hobbit-hole in question belongs to one Bilbo Baggins, an upstanding member of a "little people, about half our height, and smaller than the bearded dwarves." He is, like most of his kind, well off, well fed, and best pleased when sitting by his own fire with a pipe, a glass of good beer, and a meal to look forward to. Certainly this particular hobbit is the last person one would expect to see set off on a hazardous journey; indeed, when Gandalf the Grey stops by one morning, "looking for someone to share in an adventure," Baggins fervently wishes the wizard elsewhere. No such luck, however; soon 13 fortune-seeking dwarves have arrived on the hobbit's doorstep in search of a burglar, and before he can even grab his hat or an umbrella, Bilbo Baggins is swept out his door and into a dangerous adventure.

The dwarves' goal is to return to their ancestral home in the Lonely Mountains and reclaim a stolen fortune from the dragon Smaug. Along the way, they and their reluctant companion meet giant spiders, hostile elves, ravening wolves--and, most perilous of all, a subterranean creature named Gollum from whom Bilbo wins a magical ring in a riddling contest. It is from this life-or-death game in the dark that J.R.R. Tolkien's masterwork,The Lord of the Rings, would eventually spring. Though The Hobbit is lighter in tone than the trilogy that follows, it has, like Bilbo Baggins himself, unexpected iron at its core. Don't be fooled by its fairy-tale demeanor; this is very much a story for adults, though older children will enjoy it, too. By the time Bilbo returns to his comfortable hobbit-hole, he is a different person altogether, well primed for the bigger adventures to come--and so is the reader. --Alix Wilber ... Read more

Reviews (1432)

Light-years from Harry Potter
"The Hobbit" begins a tale continued in "The Lord of the Rings" and should be read first, it is a gem. How could anyone "review" these timeless fantasy classics? The prose in these books is first-rate, beautifully crafted English language and they should be considered classics. The quality of language use is light-years ahead in style and sheer enjoyment to read than that in the "Harry Potter" books (especially if you're an adult, "Harry Potter"'s writing style is more for kids). "The Hobbit" and "The Lord of the Rings" are the only "real" books on Middle Earth produced by J.R.R. Tolkein in his lifetime. "The Silmarillon" book and some others were gathered together by Christopher Tolkein (the author's son) to make money. There is no plot line, or anything but notes on the "pre-history" of Middle-Earth (the subject of Tolkein's real books) being really a bunch of disjointed random notes. DO NOT BUY if you're expecting a story- Christopher Tolkein is rich enough. The only other common original story book by J.R.R. Tolkein is a collection, "The Tolkein Reader", which is a really good collection of about 4 short stories bound together and fun to read, although different in tone from his other writings. "Farmer Giles of Ham" (the first story in the collection) is great and fun. If you have an 11 to 14 year old who likes to read, make sure they don't miss out on "The Hobbit" and "The Lord of the Rings" in their childhood. The books have incredible detail, are full of sunshine, wonder, drama, humor, and fun- as well as being serious also, like the more brooding and hurried-up blockbuster movies. Get your kids reading them at 11 to 14 years of age, like I did. The books remain a pleasant memory to me 30 years later, ranking up there with "Treasure Island" and "The Call of the Wild" in my boyhood memory. ONE CAVEAT: "The Hobbit" is often referred to as a children's story (I read it at 12 years) while "The Lord of the Rings" is often referred to as for adults (I read it as a 13-14 year-old, and it was perfect).

The Hobbit !The Best Book I have ever read!
The Hobbit is completely my favourite book of all time. When I was 6 I listened to the tape and since then I have probably read the book 583 times. It has a superp story line which none absoulutely none of the several 100 other books I have read since can compare with. Okay Artemis Fowl was pretty good, well actually very good and so were the Harry Potter books but what other books can claim they have. A great storyline, Wizards, a hero who dosen't want to be one, Elves, Dragons and a richly satisfying ending? If there is a book I would really like to hear about it.

The hero is the loveable character called Bilbo Baggins. He is of course a hobbit. As i'm sure pretty much every one knows what a hobbit is but for the benefit of the people who do not the foggiest idea what a hobbit is I will type the books explaination .

If you have read the book don't bother reading this explanation if you don't wan't to.

They are (or were) a little people, about half our height, and smaller than the bearded dwarves. Hobbits have no beards. There is little or no magic about them, except the ordinary everyday sort which helps them to disappear quietly and quickly when large stupid folk like you or me come blundering along, making a noise like elephants which they can hear a mile off. They are inclined to be fat in the stomach; they dress in bright colours (chiefly green and yellow); wear no shoes, because their feet grow natural leathery soles and thick warm brown hair like the stuff on their heads (which is curly); have long clever brown fingers, good- natured faces, and a laugh deep fruity laughs (especially after dinner, which they have twice a day when they can get it).

Many people say they prefer the hobbit to the Lord Of The Rings for two simple reasons.

1) It is easier to read and a lot less complicated.

2) It has a better story line.

The hobbit is absoulutely fantastic! Any adults who haven't read this book need to read it or deserve to be PUNISHED!

As for the people who rate this book below 5 stars they probably didn't read this book well enough or haven't read it at all.

In conclusion

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!BUY THIS BOOK NOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Even better than LOTR
Many fans of both The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings will tell you something like, "The Hobbit tells you some stuff you'll need to know when reading LOTR, but it really plays second fiddle to the ULTIMATE fantasy that LOTR is."In my opinion, this simply isn't true.While LOTR focuses on a grand and epic battle encompassing Middle Earth in its entirety, The Hobbit is a more romantic tale - focusing on a single quest and taking its time to storytell.Its simple "there and back again" feel and lighter mood make it one of my favorite novels. ... Read more

Isbn: 0345445600
Subjects:  1. Classics    2. Comics & Cartoons    3. Fantasy - Epic    4. Fantasy fiction    5. Fiction    6. Literature - Classics / Criticism    7. Middle Earth (Imaginary place)    8. Fiction / Fantasy / Epic   

The Hobbit
by J.R.R. Tolkien
Average Customer Review:
Hardcover (January, 1938)
list price: $16.00 -- our price: $11.20
(price subject to change: see help)
US | Canada | United Kingdom | Germany | France

Editorial Review

"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."

The hobbit-hole in question belongs to one Bilbo Baggins, an upstanding member of a "little people, about half our height, and smaller than the bearded dwarves." He is, like most of his kind, well off, well fed, and best pleased when sitting by his own fire with a pipe, a glass of good beer, and a meal to look forward to. Certainly this particular hobbit is the last person one would expect to see set off on a hazardous journey; indeed, when Gandalf the Grey stops by one morning, "looking for someone to share in an adventure," Baggins fervently wishes the wizard elsewhere. No such luck, however; soon 13 fortune-seeking dwarves have arrived on the hobbit's doorstep in search of a burglar, and before he can even grab his hat or an umbrella, Bilbo Baggins is swept out his door and into a dangerous adventure.

The dwarves' goal is to return to their ancestral home in the Lonely Mountains and reclaim a stolen fortune from the dragon Smaug. Along the way, they and their reluctant companion meet giant spiders, hostile elves, ravening wolves--and, most perilous of all, a subterranean creature named Gollum from whom Bilbo wins a magical ring in a riddling contest. It is from this life-or-death game in the dark that J.R.R. Tolkien's masterwork,The Lord of the Rings, would eventually spring. Though The Hobbit is lighter in tone than the trilogy that follows, it has, like Bilbo Baggins himself, unexpected iron at its core. Don't be fooled by its fairy-tale demeanor; this is very much a story for adults, though older children will enjoy it, too. By the time Bilbo returns to his comfortable hobbit-hole, he is a different person altogether, well primed for the bigger adventures to come--and so is the reader. --Alix Wilber ... Read more

Reviews (1432)

Light-years from Harry Potter
"The Hobbit" begins a tale continued in "The Lord of the Rings" and should be read first, it is a gem. How could anyone "review" these timeless fantasy classics? The prose in these books is first-rate, beautifully crafted English language and they should be considered classics. The quality of language use is light-years ahead in style and sheer enjoyment to read than that in the "Harry Potter" books (especially if you're an adult, "Harry Potter"'s writing style is more for kids). "The Hobbit" and "The Lord of the Rings" are the only "real" books on Middle Earth produced by J.R.R. Tolkein in his lifetime. "The Silmarillon" book and some others were gathered together by Christopher Tolkein (the author's son) to make money. There is no plot line, or anything but notes on the "pre-history" of Middle-Earth (the subject of Tolkein's real books) being really a bunch of disjointed random notes. DO NOT BUY if you're expecting a story- Christopher Tolkein is rich enough. The only other common original story book by J.R.R. Tolkein is a collection, "The Tolkein Reader", which is a really good collection of about 4 short stories bound together and fun to read, although different in tone from his other writings. "Farmer Giles of Ham" (the first story in the collection) is great and fun. If you have an 11 to 14 year old who likes to read, make sure they don't miss out on "The Hobbit" and "The Lord of the Rings" in their childhood. The books have incredible detail, are full of sunshine, wonder, drama, humor, and fun- as well as being serious also, like the more brooding and hurried-up blockbuster movies. Get your kids reading them at 11 to 14 years of age, like I did. The books remain a pleasant memory to me 30 years later, ranking up there with "Treasure Island" and "The Call of the Wild" in my boyhood memory. ONE CAVEAT: "The Hobbit" is often referred to as a children's story (I read it at 12 years) while "The Lord of the Rings" is often referred to as for adults (I read it as a 13-14 year-old, and it was perfect).

The Hobbit !The Best Book I have ever read!
The Hobbit is completely my favourite book of all time. When I was 6 I listened to the tape and since then I have probably read the book 583 times. It has a superp story line which none absoulutely none of the several 100 other books I have read since can compare with. Okay Artemis Fowl was pretty good, well actually very good and so were the Harry Potter books but what other books can claim they have. A great storyline, Wizards, a hero who dosen't want to be one, Elves, Dragons and a richly satisfying ending? If there is a book I would really like to hear about it.

The hero is the loveable character called Bilbo Baggins. He is of course a hobbit. As i'm sure pretty much every one knows what a hobbit is but for the benefit of the people who do not the foggiest idea what a hobbit is I will type the books explaination .

If you have read the book don't bother reading this explanation if you don't wan't to.

They are (or were) a little people, about half our height, and smaller than the bearded dwarves. Hobbits have no beards. There is little or no magic about them, except the ordinary everyday sort which helps them to disappear quietly and quickly when large stupid folk like you or me come blundering along, making a noise like elephants which they can hear a mile off. They are inclined to be fat in the stomach; they dress in bright colours (chiefly green and yellow); wear no shoes, because their feet grow natural leathery soles and thick warm brown hair like the stuff on their heads (which is curly); have long clever brown fingers, good- natured faces, and a laugh deep fruity laughs (especially after dinner, which they have twice a day when they can get it).

Many people say they prefer the hobbit to the Lord Of The Rings for two simple reasons.

1) It is easier to read and a lot less complicated.

2) It has a better story line.

The hobbit is absoulutely fantastic! Any adults who haven't read this book need to read it or deserve to be PUNISHED!

As for the people who rate this book below 5 stars they probably didn't read this book well enough or haven't read it at all.

In conclusion

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!BUY THIS BOOK NOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Even better than LOTR
Many fans of both The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings will tell you something like, "The Hobbit tells you some stuff you'll need to know when reading LOTR, but it really plays second fiddle to the ULTIMATE fantasy that LOTR is."In my opinion, this simply isn't true.While LOTR focuses on a grand and epic battle encompassing Middle Earth in its entirety, The Hobbit is a more romantic tale - focusing on a single quest and taking its time to storytell.Its simple "there and back again" feel and lighter mood make it one of my favorite novels. ... Read more

Isbn: 0395071224
Subjects:  1. Children's 12-Up - Literature - Classics    2. Children: Grades 4-6    3. Classics    4. Fairy tales    5. Fantasy    6. Fiction    7. Juvenile Fiction    8. Middle Earth (Imaginary place)    9. Science Fiction, Fantasy, & Magic    10. Juvenile Fiction / Science Fiction, Fantasy, Magic   

The Hobbit : Prima's Official Strategy Guide
by Jeff Barton
Average Customer Review:
Paperback (18 November, 2003)
list price: $14.99
US | Canada | United Kingdom | Germany | France

Reviews (4)

A good help!
Considering that the publisher of this Strategy Guide is providing information based on a variety of gaming platforms, they do a fairly good job.

There are some areas, however, that they could've elaborated more on - i.e. I'm trying to figure out how to get onto the upper level of the jail to get the goodies, and all that the book says is that it has something to do with a crate and a ledge.I've looked everywhere, and cannot find this "ledge" and the game only allows you to move the crate for so long before Bilbo can't move it anymore.Hence, only 4 stars.

I buy strategy guides, when available, at the time I buy my games as I find that they add to my gaming experience (read: keeps me from getting too frustrated!).This one has done a good job of keeping my frustration level to a minimum!

Great Guide
This is a great guide just like all of the other Prima Guides. The people who have given this a one or no star rating were idiots when they rated this product. Why? Because it is - or should be - common knowledge that Prima doesnt make big glossy and beautiful guides for every tiny lame Gameboy games. The reviewers should know the difference between Gameboy and the actual plug-in, big ticket platforms ala: Gamecube, Playstation 2, & Xbox. If you want a guidethat helped you enjoy the Zelda games: Ocarina of Time, Majora's Mask, & Windwaker - then this guide for The Hobbit will follow suit with those games and turn your gaming experience into pleasure, not frustration.

NOT FOR GAME BOY!
I also purchased this book thinking it would work for the GameBoy since it was stated for the GameCube but the games are only simular in abstract ways and does not help for the gameboy/gameboy advanced games.
Also from the the looks of the book if you have any choice for game help between Prima and Nitendo Power help books - go with the Nitendo Power I think you will be happier with that book's layouts.
Anyone have any sources for Gameboy help for this game please note it. ... Read more

Isbn: 0761542795
Sales Rank: 21303
Subjects:  1. Computer Bks - Games    2. Computer Books: General    3. Computers    4. Entertainment & Games - General    5. Video & Electronic - Nintendo Gamecube    6. Video & Electronic - Sony PlayStation 2    7. Games / Video & Electronic   

The Hobbit
by J. R. R. Tolkien, Rob Inglis
Average Customer Review:
Audio CD (01 July, 2001)
list price: $39.99 -- our price: $26.39
(price subject to change: see help)
US | Canada | United Kingdom | Germany | France

Editorial Review

"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."

The hobbit-hole in question belongs to one Bilbo Baggins, an upstanding member of a "little people, about half our height, and smaller than the bearded dwarves." He is, like most of his kind, well off, well fed, and best pleased when sitting by his own fire with a pipe, a glass of good beer, and a meal to look forward to. Certainly this particular hobbit is the last person one would expect to see set off on a hazardous journey; indeed, when Gandalf the Grey stops by one morning, "looking for someone to share in an adventure," Baggins fervently wishes the wizard elsewhere. No such luck, however; soon 13 fortune-seeking dwarves have arrived on the hobbit's doorstep in search of a burglar, and before he can even grab his hat or an umbrella, Bilbo Baggins is swept out his door and into a dangerous adventure.

The dwarves' goal is to return to their ancestral home in the Lonely Mountains and reclaim a stolen fortune from the dragon Smaug. Along the way, they and their reluctant companion meet giant spiders, hostile elves, ravening wolves--and, most perilous of all, a subterranean creature named Gollum from whom Bilbo wins a magical ring in a riddling contest. It is from this life-or-death game in the dark that J.R.R. Tolkien's masterwork,The Lord of the Rings, would eventually spring. Though The Hobbit is lighter in tone than the trilogy that follows, it has, like Bilbo Baggins himself, unexpected iron at its core. Don't be fooled by its fairy-tale demeanor; this is very much a story for adults, though older children will enjoy it, too. By the time Bilbo returns to his comfortable hobbit-hole, he is a different person altogether, well primed for the bigger adventures to come--and so is the reader. --Alix Wilber ... Read more

Features

• Unabridged

Reviews (1432)

Light-years from Harry Potter
"The Hobbit" begins a tale continued in "The Lord of the Rings" and should be read first, it is a gem. How could anyone "review" these timeless fantasy classics? The prose in these books is first-rate, beautifully crafted English language and they should be considered classics. The quality of language use is light-years ahead in style and sheer enjoyment to read than that in the "Harry Potter" books (especially if you're an adult, "Harry Potter"'s writing style is more for kids). "The Hobbit" and "The Lord of the Rings" are the only "real" books on Middle Earth produced by J.R.R. Tolkein in his lifetime. "The Silmarillon" book and some others were gathered together by Christopher Tolkein (the author's son) to make money. There is no plot line, or anything but notes on the "pre-history" of Middle-Earth (the subject of Tolkein's real books) being really a bunch of disjointed random notes. DO NOT BUY if you're expecting a story- Christopher Tolkein is rich enough. The only other common original story book by J.R.R. Tolkein is a collection, "The Tolkein Reader", which is a really good collection of about 4 short stories bound together and fun to read, although different in tone from his other writings. "Farmer Giles of Ham" (the first story in the collection) is great and fun. If you have an 11 to 14 year old who likes to read, make sure they don't miss out on "The Hobbit" and "The Lord of the Rings" in their childhood. The books have incredible detail, are full of sunshine, wonder, drama, humor, and fun- as well as being serious also, like the more brooding and hurried-up blockbuster movies. Get your kids reading them at 11 to 14 years of age, like I did. The books remain a pleasant memory to me 30 years later, ranking up there with "Treasure Island" and "The Call of the Wild" in my boyhood memory. ONE CAVEAT: "The Hobbit" is often referred to as a children's story (I read it at 12 years) while "The Lord of the Rings" is often referred to as for adults (I read it as a 13-14 year-old, and it was perfect).

The Hobbit !The Best Book I have ever read!
The Hobbit is completely my favourite book of all time. When I was 6 I listened to the tape and since then I have probably read the book 583 times. It has a superp story line which none absoulutely none of the several 100 other books I have read since can compare with. Okay Artemis Fowl was pretty good, well actually very good and so were the Harry Potter books but what other books can claim they have. A great storyline, Wizards, a hero who dosen't want to be one, Elves, Dragons and a richly satisfying ending? If there is a book I would really like to hear about it.

The hero is the loveable character called Bilbo Baggins. He is of course a hobbit. As i'm sure pretty much every one knows what a hobbit is but for the benefit of the people who do not the foggiest idea what a hobbit is I will type the books explaination .

If you have read the book don't bother reading this explanation if you don't wan't to.

They are (or were) a little people, about half our height, and smaller than the bearded dwarves. Hobbits have no beards. There is little or no magic about them, except the ordinary everyday sort which helps them to disappear quietly and quickly when large stupid folk like you or me come blundering along, making a noise like elephants which they can hear a mile off. They are inclined to be fat in the stomach; they dress in bright colours (chiefly green and yellow); wear no shoes, because their feet grow natural leathery soles and thick warm brown hair like the stuff on their heads (which is curly); have long clever brown fingers, good- natured faces, and a laugh deep fruity laughs (especially after dinner, which they have twice a day when they can get it).

Many people say they prefer the hobbit to the Lord Of The Rings for two simple reasons.

1) It is easier to read and a lot less complicated.

2) It has a better story line.

The hobbit is absoulutely fantastic! Any adults who haven't read this book need to read it or deserve to be PUNISHED!

As for the people who rate this book below 5 stars they probably didn't read this book well enough or haven't read it at all.

In conclusion

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!BUY THIS BOOK NOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Even better than LOTR
Many fans of both The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings will tell you something like, "The Hobbit tells you some stuff you'll need to know when reading LOTR, but it really plays second fiddle to the ULTIMATE fantasy that LOTR is."In my opinion, this simply isn't true.While LOTR focuses on a grand and epic battle encompassing Middle Earth in its entirety, The Hobbit is a more romantic tale - focusing on a single quest and taking its time to storytell.Its simple "there and back again" feel and lighter mood make it one of my favorite novels. ... Read more

Isbn: 0788789821
Subjects:  1. Audio - Fiction (Unabridged)    2. Audio: Juvenile    3. Fantasy - Epic   

The Hobbit
by J.R.R. Tolkien
Average Customer Review:
Audio CD (01 October, 2001)
list price: $29.95 -- our price: $19.77
(price subject to change: see help)
US | Canada | United Kingdom | Germany | France

Editorial Review

"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."

The hobbit-hole in question belongs to one Bilbo Baggins, an upstanding member of a "little people, about half our height, and smaller than the bearded dwarves." He is, like most of his kind, well off, well fed, and best pleased when sitting by his own fire with a pipe, a glass of good beer, and a meal to look forward to. Certainly this particular hobbit is the last person one would expect to see set off on a hazardous journey; indeed, when Gandalf the Grey stops by one morning, "looking for someone to share in an adventure," Baggins fervently wishes the wizard elsewhere. No such luck, however; soon 13 fortune-seeking dwarves have arrived on the hobbit's doorstep in search of a burglar, and before he can even grab his hat or an umbrella, Bilbo Baggins is swept out his door and into a dangerous adventure.

The dwarves' goal is to return to their ancestral home in the Lonely Mountains and reclaim a stolen fortune from the dragon Smaug. Along the way, they and their reluctant companion meet giant spiders, hostile elves, ravening wolves--and, most perilous of all, a subterranean creature named Gollum from whom Bilbo wins a magical ring in a riddling contest. It is from this life-or-death game in the dark that J.R.R. Tolkien's masterwork,The Lord of the Rings, would eventually spring. Though The Hobbit is lighter in tone than the trilogy that follows, it has, like Bilbo Baggins himself, unexpected iron at its core. Don't be fooled by its fairy-tale demeanor; this is very much a story for adults, though older children will enjoy it, too. By the time Bilbo returns to his comfortable hobbit-hole, he is a different person altogether, well primed for the bigger adventures to come--and so is the reader. --Alix Wilber ... Read more

Features

• Abridged

Reviews (1432)

Light-years from Harry Potter
"The Hobbit" begins a tale continued in "The Lord of the Rings" and should be read first, it is a gem. How could anyone "review" these timeless fantasy classics? The prose in these books is first-rate, beautifully crafted English language and they should be considered classics. The quality of language use is light-years ahead in style and sheer enjoyment to read than that in the "Harry Potter" books (especially if you're an adult, "Harry Potter"'s writing style is more for kids). "The Hobbit" and "The Lord of the Rings" are the only "real" books on Middle Earth produced by J.R.R. Tolkein in his lifetime. "The Silmarillon" book and some others were gathered together by Christopher Tolkein (the author's son) to make money. There is no plot line, or anything but notes on the "pre-history" of Middle-Earth (the subject of Tolkein's real books) being really a bunch of disjointed random notes. DO NOT BUY if you're expecting a story- Christopher Tolkein is rich enough. The only other common original story book by J.R.R. Tolkein is a collection, "The Tolkein Reader", which is a really good collection of about 4 short stories bound together and fun to read, although different in tone from his other writings. "Farmer Giles of Ham" (the first story in the collection) is great and fun. If you have an 11 to 14 year old who likes to read, make sure they don't miss out on "The Hobbit" and "The Lord of the Rings" in their childhood. The books have incredible detail, are full of sunshine, wonder, drama, humor, and fun- as well as being serious also, like the more brooding and hurried-up blockbuster movies. Get your kids reading them at 11 to 14 years of age, like I did. The books remain a pleasant memory to me 30 years later, ranking up there with "Treasure Island" and "The Call of the Wild" in my boyhood memory. ONE CAVEAT: "The Hobbit" is often referred to as a children's story (I read it at 12 years) while "The Lord of the Rings" is often referred to as for adults (I read it as a 13-14 year-old, and it was perfect).

The Hobbit !The Best Book I have ever read!
The Hobbit is completely my favourite book of all time. When I was 6 I listened to the tape and since then I have probably read the book 583 times. It has a superp story line which none absoulutely none of the several 100 other books I have read since can compare with. Okay Artemis Fowl was pretty good, well actually very good and so were the Harry Potter books but what other books can claim they have. A great storyline, Wizards, a hero who dosen't want to be one, Elves, Dragons and a richly satisfying ending? If there is a book I would really like to hear about it.

The hero is the loveable character called Bilbo Baggins. He is of course a hobbit. As i'm sure pretty much every one knows what a hobbit is but for the benefit of the people who do not the foggiest idea what a hobbit is I will type the books explaination .

If you have read the book don't bother reading this explanation if you don't wan't to.

They are (or were) a little people, about half our height, and smaller than the bearded dwarves. Hobbits have no beards. There is little or no magic about them, except the ordinary everyday sort which helps them to disappear quietly and quickly when large stupid folk like you or me come blundering along, making a noise like elephants which they can hear a mile off. They are inclined to be fat in the stomach; they dress in bright colours (chiefly green and yellow); wear no shoes, because their feet grow natural leathery soles and thick warm brown hair like the stuff on their heads (which is curly); have long clever brown fingers, good- natured faces, and a laugh deep fruity laughs (especially after dinner, which they have twice a day when they can get it).

Many people say they prefer the hobbit to the Lord Of The Rings for two simple reasons.

1) It is easier to read and a lot less complicated.

2) It has a better story line.

The hobbit is absoulutely fantastic! Any adults who haven't read this book need to read it or deserve to be PUNISHED!

As for the people who rate this book below 5 stars they probably didn't read this book well enough or haven't read it at all.

In conclusion

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!BUY THIS BOOK NOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Even better than LOTR
Many fans of both The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings will tell you something like, "The Hobbit tells you some stuff you'll need to know when reading LOTR, but it really plays second fiddle to the ULTIMATE fantasy that LOTR is."In my opinion, this simply isn't true.While LOTR focuses on a grand and epic battle encompassing Middle Earth in its entirety, The Hobbit is a more romantic tale - focusing on a single quest and taking its time to storytell.Its simple "there and back again" feel and lighter mood make it one of my favorite novels. ... Read more

Isbn: 156511552X
Subjects:  1. Audio - Science Fiction / Fantasy    2. Audio Adult: Books On Tape    3. Classics    4. Fantasy - General    5. Fiction    6. Science Fiction - General   

The Hobbit (Lord of the Rings (Audio))
by J. R. R. Tolkien
Average Customer Review:
Audio CD (01 April, 2002)
list price: $29.95 -- our price: $18.87
(price subject to change: see help)
US | Canada | United Kingdom | Germany | France

Editorial Review

"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."

The hobbit-hole in question belongs to one Bilbo Baggins, an upstanding member of a "little people, about half our height, and smaller than the bearded dwarves." He is, like most of his kind, well off, well fed, and best pleased when sitting by his own fire with a pipe, a glass of good beer, and a meal to look forward to. Certainly this particular hobbit is the last person one would expect to see set off on a hazardous journey; indeed, when Gandalf the Grey stops by one morning, "looking for someone to share in an adventure," Baggins fervently wishes the wizard elsewhere. No such luck, however; soon 13 fortune-seeking dwarves have arrived on the hobbit's doorstep in search of a burglar, and before he can even grab his hat or an umbrella, Bilbo Baggins is swept out his door and into a dangerous adventure.

The dwarves' goal is to return to their ancestral home in the Lonely Mountains and reclaim a stolen fortune from the dragon Smaug. Along the way, they and their reluctant companion meet giant spiders, hostile elves, ravening wolves--and, most perilous of all, a subterranean creature named Gollum from whom Bilbo wins a magical ring in a riddling contest. It is from this life-or-death game in the dark that J.R.R. Tolkien's masterwork,The Lord of the Rings, would eventually spring. Though The Hobbit is lighter in tone than the trilogy that follows, it has, like Bilbo Baggins himself, unexpected iron at its core. Don't be fooled by its fairy-tale demeanor; this is very much a story for adults, though older children will enjoy it, too. By the time Bilbo returns to his comfortable hobbit-hole, he is a different person altogether, well primed for the bigger adventures to come--and so is the reader. --Alix Wilber ... Read more

Features

• Abridged

Reviews (1432)

Light-years from Harry Potter
"The Hobbit" begins a tale continued in "The Lord of the Rings" and should be read first, it is a gem. How could anyone "review" these timeless fantasy classics? The prose in these books is first-rate, beautifully crafted English language and they should be considered classics. The quality of language use is light-years ahead in style and sheer enjoyment to read than that in the "Harry Potter" books (especially if you're an adult, "Harry Potter"'s writing style is more for kids). "The Hobbit" and "The Lord of the Rings" are the only "real" books on Middle Earth produced by J.R.R. Tolkein in his lifetime. "The Silmarillon" book and some others were gathered together by Christopher Tolkein (the author's son) to make money. There is no plot line, or anything but notes on the "pre-history" of Middle-Earth (the subject of Tolkein's real books) being really a bunch of disjointed random notes. DO NOT BUY if you're expecting a story- Christopher Tolkein is rich enough. The only other common original story book by J.R.R. Tolkein is a collection, "The Tolkein Reader", which is a really good collection of about 4 short stories bound together and fun to read, although different in tone from his other writings. "Farmer Giles of Ham" (the first story in the collection) is great and fun. If you have an 11 to 14 year old who likes to read, make sure they don't miss out on "The Hobbit" and "The Lord of the Rings" in their childhood. The books have incredible detail, are full of sunshine, wonder, drama, humor, and fun- as well as being serious also, like the more brooding and hurried-up blockbuster movies. Get your kids reading them at 11 to 14 years of age, like I did. The books remain a pleasant memory to me 30 years later, ranking up there with "Treasure Island" and "The Call of the Wild" in my boyhood memory. ONE CAVEAT: "The Hobbit" is often referred to as a children's story (I read it at 12 years) while "The Lord of the Rings" is often referred to as for adults (I read it as a 13-14 year-old, and it was perfect).

The Hobbit !The Best Book I have ever read!
The Hobbit is completely my favourite book of all time. When I was 6 I listened to the tape and since then I have probably read the book 583 times. It has a superp story line which none absoulutely none of the several 100 other books I have read since can compare with. Okay Artemis Fowl was pretty good, well actually very good and so were the Harry Potter books but what other books can claim they have. A great storyline, Wizards, a hero who dosen't want to be one, Elves, Dragons and a richly satisfying ending? If there is a book I would really like to hear about it.

The hero is the loveable character called Bilbo Baggins. He is of course a hobbit. As i'm sure pretty much every one knows what a hobbit is but for the benefit of the people who do not the foggiest idea what a hobbit is I will type the books explaination .

If you have read the book don't bother reading this explanation if you don't wan't to.

They are (or were) a little people, about half our height, and smaller than the bearded dwarves. Hobbits have no beards. There is little or no magic about them, except the ordinary everyday sort which helps them to disappear quietly and quickly when large stupid folk like you or me come blundering along, making a noise like elephants which they can hear a mile off. They are inclined to be fat in the stomach; they dress in bright colours (chiefly green and yellow); wear no shoes, because their feet grow natural leathery soles and thick warm brown hair like the stuff on their heads (which is curly); have long clever brown fingers, good- natured faces, and a laugh deep fruity laughs (especially after dinner, which they have twice a day when they can get it).

Many people say they prefer the hobbit to the Lord Of The Rings for two simple reasons.

1) It is easier to read and a lot less complicated.

2) It has a better story line.

The hobbit is absoulutely fantastic! Any adults who haven't read this book need to read it or deserve to be PUNISHED!

As for the people who rate this book below 5 stars they probably didn't read this book well enough or haven't read it at all.

In conclusion

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!BUY THIS BOOK NOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Even better than LOTR
Many fans of both The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings will tell you something like, "The Hobbit tells you some stuff you'll need to know when reading LOTR, but it really plays second fiddle to the ULTIMATE fantasy that LOTR is."In my opinion, this simply isn't true.While LOTR focuses on a grand and epic battle encompassing Middle Earth in its entirety, The Hobbit is a more romantic tale - focusing on a single quest and taking its time to storytell.Its simple "there and back again" feel and lighter mood make it one of my favorite novels. ... Read more

Isbn: 1565116720
Subjects:  1. (John Ronald Reuel),    2. 1892-1973    3. Audio - Science Fiction / Fantasy    4. Audio Adult: Books On Tape    5. Audio adaptations    6. Audiobooks    7. Classics    8. Fantasy - Epic    9. Fiction    10. Literary    11. Tolkien, J. R. R.