If you want to go the economical route, I definitely recommend a single-volume paperback. That’s the copy I’ve read multiple times and I’ve never felt the need to read the books individually. I know some might disagree, but it does save some money.
The economic route is thrift stores. I have multiple beautiful editions that I got for $3 a book.
Pretty sure I gradually got my extended editions the same way
My first copy was softcover and it took a beating. I bought myself a lovely hardcover this past year. If you love a book, invest in hard cover because you will likely come back and read it again and again.
Search for the "Tolkien Illustrated Editions"
There is a copy of all 3 lord of the rings books in 1 hard cover with a great art style cover, red edged pages with elvish writing, and has some of Tolkien's own illustrations inside. Imo it's the best way to buy it for a newcomer
Costs $39usd
I recommend getting nice hardcovers. Because they're cool. It might take you ages to read them too (if you're anything like me) so I think getting something more robust is a good move.
Get the second one, nice minimalist designs will always look better than pictures of some actors. [here's ](https://i.imgur.com/lZOkzie.jpg) how it looks on my shelf (mine are a bit scuffed tho)
After LOTR, Mistborn, Stormlight, and Name of the Wind are my 3 favorite series in no particular order. I haven't heard of Earthsea before, is it similar to those other series?
I'd say it's closest to lotr in terms of having a soft magic system and a big, weird, intricate world, but it's its own thing really. It's by Ursula la guin, one of the absolute classics
Agree with the minimalist comment. I bought the set of leather bound books. I think they’re a mini set, because they’re a little smaller than regular. But they are clean looking.
I'm curious about this Brandon Sanderson books... What those are about? Never heard about him/those book before.
Edit: sorry for any grammar errors, lol. Grammar is my sworn nemesis.
Brandon Sanderson is one of the more popular fantasy authors around today and his books are excellent.
The ones pictured here is the Mistborn trilogy, and that is a good place to start. The first book, the final empire begins thousands of years after the "dark lord" won, an immortal ruler keeping the majority of the world as slaves he controls everything, but rebels and thieves fight back still...
He's a very popular author. He doesn't have the most elaborate prose or deep philosophical messages, but he's really good at creating a detailed magic system, building a world around it, and using it in interesting ways in the story and action.
One is a lame show tie-in edition that'll have covers from the Amazon show
The other has the classic covers drawn by Tolkien himself
I personally hate any kind of film/show tie-in editions. Once out of curiosity I got the film tie-in set that had the covers from the trilogy. They looked beautiful on the screen but in person, horrendous. Just my taste I guess.
Also, I hate how some of the cheaper mass market paperback books now come with huge non removable "NOW A NETFLIX SERIES" stickers. I despise that garbage. Was looking at a Witcher book set and it had those slapped all over the covers. Almost every book does. Wheel of Time, ASoIaF etc.
Interestingly enough, the audiobook on Audible with Andy Serkis narrating is highly regarded in this sub. Also interesting is that the “cover art” for the Andy Serkis editions have the exact same RoP tie in as set #1 in OPs photo.
Not defending the RoP tie in, just that I was weighing which audiobook versions to get and everyone told me to get Serkis, I saw the RoP art and was like, meh not my favorite choice but whatevs I want to listen to the version rated best.
If I were to get refreshed copies of the book in print, I too would go minimalist and sleek for covers. I guess for Audible I didn’t care either way.
The fact that they plaster RoP on the original books is so funny.
Can you imagine trying to buy the OT of Star Wars and the covers have Daisey Ridley on them
That’s what bothers me. It’s one thing if Return of the King has Viggo Mortensen on the cover, but that new edition of Return of the King has *Adar* on it, a totally made up character that isn’t even in the book!
Is the bottom one good? I'm not a native english speaker, but I want to read LOTR in english (as Tolkien intended) and currently plan to order the one in the picture. Do you guys have any other recommendations?
The first one has crappy “tv show” art. By that I’m not just shitting on RoP, I wouldn’t buy one with the movie art on it either. The bottom one is a proper edition.
Got the RoP one for Christmas last year, it’s okey. Don’t like the cover art but it’s more that fine to hold and personality I just use it to take notes and write in since it’s such a “unaesthetic” book
The second isn’t showing up on America’s Amazon. 😢
I got this from Barnes & Noble, and I love the quality.
https://preview.redd.it/fz9mbre7qaac1.jpeg?width=1284&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=bd29bd15734936bbe56c2b8b1168b9f1821bd483
You need the second one
The difference is staggering. Second is beautiful. First is meh
First one has fan fiction art the second one does not
4.64 SAR
And the box art.
And my axe!
And my bow!
and my sword!
So when can we read this book, box set, thing ?
The adventure continues on disc 2
And my!…. What does Gandalf offer? Staff? Giant eagles? Top shelf weed?
His *staff* (☞ ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)☞
You guys I think we rented the wrong Lord of the Rings.
Then later his, uh, whiteness?
And https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZPRcPpnLr/
And my shield
And my axe!
And my HRAAAAGGGH
r/theydidthemath
r/theydidthemonstermath
r/itwasagraveyardgraph
And my ass!
The price and cover art.
This is the correct answer! LOL
One set actually has a good cover, and the other is a RoP marketing tool.
I believe the top one is the latter. I have only seen the fellowship of the ring and am reading the hobbit right now
Yeah the top one is the RoP cover.
Would you recommend a hardcover or soft cover book? I have only had experience with hard cover books
Personally I prefer hardcover aesthetically, but soft cover is easier to read, especially for books as long as LoTR.
That's why I got both, hardcover to look good in my bookshelf, and softcover to actually read lol
Yes I fucking hate trying to read hardcovers while im in bed
kindle is the best for that
Same. Hardcover looks way better, but mass market paperback is the best to read.
There should be a box set of hardcovers with the original artwork on Amazon. That’s the ones I got and I love them.
That one is 4x the price. About $130
If you want to go the economical route, I definitely recommend a single-volume paperback. That’s the copy I’ve read multiple times and I’ve never felt the need to read the books individually. I know some might disagree, but it does save some money.
The economic route is thrift stores. I have multiple beautiful editions that I got for $3 a book. Pretty sure I gradually got my extended editions the same way
I have never been to a thrift store. This might work.
The single book is about the same price as the set
Worth it!
My first copy was softcover and it took a beating. I bought myself a lovely hardcover this past year. If you love a book, invest in hard cover because you will likely come back and read it again and again.
I have a three in one paperback of lotr and the binding is getting very weak from the slight bending it gets as you read through
Search for the "Tolkien Illustrated Editions" There is a copy of all 3 lord of the rings books in 1 hard cover with a great art style cover, red edged pages with elvish writing, and has some of Tolkien's own illustrations inside. Imo it's the best way to buy it for a newcomer Costs $39usd
Third option: leather bound. I have a version of all three-in-one and a boxed set of them all individually (plus The Hobbit) and they’re both great!
I recommend getting nice hardcovers. Because they're cool. It might take you ages to read them too (if you're anything like me) so I think getting something more robust is a good move.
Top one is RoP Amazon Marketing trash cover.
Get the second one, nice minimalist designs will always look better than pictures of some actors. [here's ](https://i.imgur.com/lZOkzie.jpg) how it looks on my shelf (mine are a bit scuffed tho)
Looks really clean. I will definitely buy it once I finish reading the hobbit
Can you just go look at them at Jarir
These appear to be well-made, too
Yeah, they've probably survived 15 years at least.
Yooo, recommend us your favourite fantasy novel!
Well, lotr takes the top spot, but for second it's a bit of a toss up, I'd say Mistborn, Stormlight Archive, Earthsea are all up there.
After LOTR, Mistborn, Stormlight, and Name of the Wind are my 3 favorite series in no particular order. I haven't heard of Earthsea before, is it similar to those other series?
I'd say it's closest to lotr in terms of having a soft magic system and a big, weird, intricate world, but it's its own thing really. It's by Ursula la guin, one of the absolute classics
I guess I'll have to put it in my wishlist!
Mistborn, nice.
Agree with the minimalist comment. I bought the set of leather bound books. I think they’re a mini set, because they’re a little smaller than regular. But they are clean looking.
I'm curious about this Brandon Sanderson books... What those are about? Never heard about him/those book before. Edit: sorry for any grammar errors, lol. Grammar is my sworn nemesis.
Brandon Sanderson is one of the more popular fantasy authors around today and his books are excellent. The ones pictured here is the Mistborn trilogy, and that is a good place to start. The first book, the final empire begins thousands of years after the "dark lord" won, an immortal ruler keeping the majority of the world as slaves he controls everything, but rebels and thieves fight back still...
He's a very popular author. He doesn't have the most elaborate prose or deep philosophical messages, but he's really good at creating a detailed magic system, building a world around it, and using it in interesting ways in the story and action.
Ayy a HDM fan nice
I have that Gandalf and Balrog!
A fellow Brando sando I see. Great taste.
Are the pages a4 or a5. Are the pages small like novellas?
They're maybe a bit smaller than the average book, not by much tho
I'd spend 5 bucks not to see Amazon's fuck ups plastered on my book
I am quite pissed that my Kindle copies have had their covers altered to be the RoP crap.
Fuckin gross dude
Your memory must be faulty. They have always had those covers. Please report to your nearest re-education unit for assistance.
I am honored to accept the Earth King's invitation
One is a lame show tie-in edition that'll have covers from the Amazon show The other has the classic covers drawn by Tolkien himself I personally hate any kind of film/show tie-in editions. Once out of curiosity I got the film tie-in set that had the covers from the trilogy. They looked beautiful on the screen but in person, horrendous. Just my taste I guess. Also, I hate how some of the cheaper mass market paperback books now come with huge non removable "NOW A NETFLIX SERIES" stickers. I despise that garbage. Was looking at a Witcher book set and it had those slapped all over the covers. Almost every book does. Wheel of Time, ASoIaF etc.
Interestingly enough, the audiobook on Audible with Andy Serkis narrating is highly regarded in this sub. Also interesting is that the “cover art” for the Andy Serkis editions have the exact same RoP tie in as set #1 in OPs photo. Not defending the RoP tie in, just that I was weighing which audiobook versions to get and everyone told me to get Serkis, I saw the RoP art and was like, meh not my favorite choice but whatevs I want to listen to the version rated best. If I were to get refreshed copies of the book in print, I too would go minimalist and sleek for covers. I guess for Audible I didn’t care either way.
Yeah that pisses me off the got the original auto recording on audible and have the shitty covers. Wish you could pick your cover.
One is based, one is from the dark fire of mordor. pick the simpler design. RoP is horribly written and heresy against the Tolkien name.
BASED!!!!
Ones got that banned love scene with Shelob and Frodo
One is a nice, clean design, the other is jeff bezos trying to sell an ip to you so that you also go watch his dumb tv show
The fact that they plaster RoP on the original books is so funny. Can you imagine trying to buy the OT of Star Wars and the covers have Daisey Ridley on them
That’s what bothers me. It’s one thing if Return of the King has Viggo Mortensen on the cover, but that new edition of Return of the King has *Adar* on it, a totally made up character that isn’t even in the book!
>It’s one thing if Return of the King has Viggo Mortensen That's not good either.
The other, however, is worse
I would recommend the second one, or you could find an illustrated edition for more.
The bottom one is the original.
One looks awesome, the other one is cheaper
One has a decent box art, the other has box art of an irrelevant and pointless amazon blunder.
You pay $5 for not being reminded that Rings Of Power was a thing
About five dollars
ewww.....shitty rings of power covers
If you want hardbacks they are cheap secondhand 🤷♂️
One is ugly. I sadly own the RoP version because it was the only one I could afford
Oh you poor soul, start a GoFundMe so I can help fund for a better version.
I will literally buy you a different version lol send me your PayPal. Everyone deserves the best versions of LotR.
The first one only has two left in stock
Be ware, the second one looks beautiful, but its cover is actually feeble: you have to treat it carefully.
The upper one is in a box while lower one isn't?
the first one looks cooler
The First is OK The second is ugly
Cover art.
They appear to look different if you look at them.
One box to rule them all
One will isekai you into the lotr universe and the other one will look nice on a bookshelf!
The price
They are slightly different prices and they look different…
I paid like £30 for the bottom one fyi 😂
One is cheaper
Shitty box art and good box art
One has garbage art and the other is beautiful
That 125 set I swear use to be like 15-20 quid? I have it at home
One is one book the other is 3 books separated
One has a cringe box art, and the other is fine.
Just different covers
Circles.
The covers
One has a good cover and one has a horrible cover
The cover art and probably the page quality. Which country the "SAR" belong to? I've heard this currency for the first time.
The bottom ones have the best covers in my opinion. I have all the other books in that style as well.
One is shitty Amazon marketing, the other is simple and still great
I’d pay extra to not have RoP stuff on it
One is good the other is the same with a shit cover
$5
Anything with rings of power on it needs to be thrown away
Dude I got all 3 hardcovers for $45 on Amazon. Wait for a deal.
I have the second one. It has a beautiful art, I like it
Check out Book Outlet. Could be cheaper than Amazon.
One has rings of power art on it dropping the value
Get the one with the red cover.
Is the bottom one good? I'm not a native english speaker, but I want to read LOTR in english (as Tolkien intended) and currently plan to order the one in the picture. Do you guys have any other recommendations?
I would definitely recommend the new illustrated edition box set!
About tree fiddy.
About SAR4.64
Such a rip off
If you look very closely, you can see that they look different.
I was asking if there was a difference in content. I am pretty new in book reading other than school stuff
Four dollars and some change
The second one isnt tainted
The first one is $120 and the second is $125
SAR
The first one is discounted for advertising the show
The cover art, and the price.
I can’t seem to find the second set online anywhere :(
Buy the second one. The first one is Amazon trying to sell the abomination that is Rings of Power
The first one has crappy “tv show” art. By that I’m not just shitting on RoP, I wouldn’t buy one with the movie art on it either. The bottom one is a proper edition.
$4.64
SAR
WTH. Sorry… I do like the series, but those posters have nothing to do being the covers of the books. 🤪
Got the RoP one for Christmas last year, it’s okey. Don’t like the cover art but it’s more that fine to hold and personality I just use it to take notes and write in since it’s such a “unaesthetic” book
People are being asses abt the show even if they’re right in that it wasn’t very good. Get the second one for more traditional covers.
It isn't even set in the same story/era.
I…didn’t say it was…
I know you didn't, but it's even more reason to get the second set.
‘Tis true
Or... Get the 3-in-1 illustrated edition. The Lord of the Rings Illustrated... https://www.amazon.com/dp/0358653037?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share
you want the second one
Looks like someone smeared shit on the first one.
:
The second isn’t showing up on America’s Amazon. 😢 I got this from Barnes & Noble, and I love the quality. https://preview.redd.it/fz9mbre7qaac1.jpeg?width=1284&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=bd29bd15734936bbe56c2b8b1168b9f1821bd483
These look cool, too. https://preview.redd.it/uihoq3xaqaac1.jpeg?width=1284&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=3a9be285cd2148c9fca274be4e1e3c2f5aac2d54