Description
Presents illustrated definitions in alphabetical order of all the imaginary beasts, monsters, races, nations, duties, fauna, and flora of the worlds of middle-earth and the Undying Lands. Also includes a map and a chronology of all the ages.
Language
Original language
English
Original publication date
1979
Publication
London : Chancellor Press, 1996.
Pages
287
ISBN
1851529926 / 9781851529926
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User reviews
LibraryThing member aethercowboy
For as little fantasy as Tolkien wrote, his work struck like a sledgehammer where other authors' libraries hit like a flyswatter. His writing is dense and thorough, the work of a perfectionist, which is why there's not much out there that bears only his name, and not Christopher's. Nevertheless,
The merits of David Day's A Tolkien Bestiary are that it covers the big 3: Hobbit, LOTR, and Silmarillion. This book presents, in encyclopedic format complete with illustrations, references to all the flora, fauna, creatures, races, and kingdoms of Tolkien's Legendarium. Included, at no extra charge, are color plates depicting the history of Arda (the world that contains Middle Earth), from creation to the events in the end of the LOTR.
If you are a fan of Tolkien, I'm sure you will be able to find many useful pieces of information. And if you're an exceptional fan of Tolkien, I'm sure you can find an error or an omission. For me, this is just one of the many Tolkien reference books I keep along side those penned by him, as well as a few of those edited by his son and published posthumously. Definitely worth adding to your collection if third party reference material is your thing.
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many other authors or fans or devotees have generated multitudes of Tolkien guides, authorized and unauthorized, canonical and noncanonical, researched and questionable. You get the picture.The merits of David Day's A Tolkien Bestiary are that it covers the big 3: Hobbit, LOTR, and Silmarillion. This book presents, in encyclopedic format complete with illustrations, references to all the flora, fauna, creatures, races, and kingdoms of Tolkien's Legendarium. Included, at no extra charge, are color plates depicting the history of Arda (the world that contains Middle Earth), from creation to the events in the end of the LOTR.
If you are a fan of Tolkien, I'm sure you will be able to find many useful pieces of information. And if you're an exceptional fan of Tolkien, I'm sure you can find an error or an omission. For me, this is just one of the many Tolkien reference books I keep along side those penned by him, as well as a few of those edited by his son and published posthumously. Definitely worth adding to your collection if third party reference material is your thing.
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LibraryThing member Haltiamieli
This is certainly not a book for more serious Tolkien scholars due to the many mistakes and liberties Day takes in his interpretation of Tolkien's world! If you are writing about Tolkien, the last thing you want to be called by the enthusiasts is "a davidday". Another problem is the reproduction of
That being said, the book does have some nice illustrations for example by Viktor Ambrus (many of which, on the other hand, some not so artsy-oriented people may find boring, ugly or too much "out-of-the-box"). Day writes in easy-going and enjoyable way, if you can stomach the errors.
For many Finns the book ("Tolkienin maailma") holds some nostalgy as it was, back in the old days, quite the only available book about the world of Tolkien in Finnish. What's more, it is translated by Kersti Juva herself, the main translator of Tolkien in Finland, and due to "The Adventures of Tom Bombadil" never having been translated to Finnish as a whole, it contains some unique translations (naukuhuulet, hirttoyrtti, vaakut, surisarvet...).
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Day's text, with quite little editing, as myriad differing titles... As if it would be really worth buying more than one.That being said, the book does have some nice illustrations for example by Viktor Ambrus (many of which, on the other hand, some not so artsy-oriented people may find boring, ugly or too much "out-of-the-box"). Day writes in easy-going and enjoyable way, if you can stomach the errors.
For many Finns the book ("Tolkienin maailma") holds some nostalgy as it was, back in the old days, quite the only available book about the world of Tolkien in Finnish. What's more, it is translated by Kersti Juva herself, the main translator of Tolkien in Finland, and due to "The Adventures of Tom Bombadil" never having been translated to Finnish as a whole, it contains some unique translations (naukuhuulet, hirttoyrtti, vaakut, surisarvet...).
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LibraryThing member Eric_the_Hamster
An encyclopaedia for confirmed Tolkien enthusiasts - includes references to Silmarillion and Unfinished Tales as well as the better known trilogy. Many beautiful illustrations (not Tolkien's, though).
LibraryThing member JoClare
A beautifully illustrated book with information on the fantasy beasts in the Tolkien books.
LibraryThing member Crowyhead
Day does an excellent job of explicating some of the intricacies of Tolkien's world, particularly the convoluted mythology of The Silmarillion. I'm not a big fan of the artwork in this book, though, which makes the whole thing only halfway successful for me.