Newbie Guide
Lord of the Rings is modern fantasy. I don't mean that, that is the topic of the books - I mean the books defined the topic. Orks, goblins, dwarfs, elves are just some of the creatures we today well recognise thanks to Lord of the Rings.

The books, written by J R R Tolkien and were first published around 1995. The story is broken down into three books - the Fellowship of the Ring, the Two Towers and the Return of the King. Although technically each book contains two parts.

There are also other books, most notably the Hobbit which acts as a prequel to Lord of the Rings and is well worth reading before you embark on the full thing.

The story is set in Middle Earth, a land currently torn apart by war as the evil Lord Sauron precides over the black lands of Mordor. It is an age where kingdoms are divided. And the most powerful ring of all is in the bands of a small Hobbit creature.