Unfinished Tales
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Unfinished Tales
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Narrated by:
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Timothy West
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Samuel West
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Written by:
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J. R. R. Tolkien
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Christopher Tolkien - editor
About this listen
Unfinished Tales is a collection of narratives ranging in time from the Elder Days of Middle-earth to the end of the War of the Ring, and provides those who have read The Lord of the Rings with a whole collection of background and new stories from the twentieth century’s most acclaimed popular author.
The book concentrates on the realm of Middle-earth and comprises such elements as Gandalf’s lively account of how it was that he came to send the Dwarves to the celebrated party at Bag-End, the emergence of the sea-god Ulmo before the eyes of Tuor on the coast of Beleriand, and an exact description of the military organization of the Riders of Rohan.
Unfinished Tales also contains the only story about the long ages of Numenor before its downfall, and all that is known about such matters as the Five Wizards, the Palantiri and the legend of Amroth. The tales were collated and edited by JRR Tolkien’s son and literary heir, Christopher Tolkien, who provides a short commentary on each story, helping the reader to fill in the gaps and put each story into the context of the rest of his father’s writings.
©1980 The Tolkien Estate Limited and C.R. Tolkien (P)1980 HarperCollins Publishers LimitedYou may also enjoy...
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The Fall of Gondolin
- Written by: Christopher Tolkien, J. R. R. Tolkien
- Narrated by: Timothy West, Samuel West
- Length: 8 hrs and 18 mins
- Unabridged
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Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 87
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Performance5 out of 5 stars 70
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Story4.5 out of 5 stars 70
Gondolin, beautiful but undiscoverable, is central to the enmity of two of the greatest powers in the world. Morgoth of the uttermost evil seeks in vain to discover the marvellously hidden city of his Elven enemies, while the gods in Valinor refuse to support Ulmo Lord of Waters' designs to protect it. Into this world comes Tuor, cousin of Túrin, and guided unseen by Ulmo he sets out on the fearful journey to Gondolin to warn them of their coming doom.
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5 out of 5 stars
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Excellent
- By Anonymous User on 2021-03-03
Written by: Christopher Tolkien, and others
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The Fall of Númenor
- And Other Tales from the Second Age of Middle-Earth
- Written by: J.R.R. Tolkien, Brian Sibley - editor
- Narrated by: Samuel West, Brian Sibley
- Length: 10 hrs and 52 mins
- Unabridged
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Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 42
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Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 35
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 35
J.R.R. Tolkien famously described the Second Age of Middle-earth as a ‘dark age, and not very much of its history is (or need be) told’. And for many years readers would need to be content with the tantalizing glimpses of it found within the pages of The Lord of the Rings and its appendices, including the forging of the Rings of Power, the building of the Barad-dûr and the rise of Sauron.
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4 out of 5 stars
-
Different ratings for different readers….
- By Anastasia Beaverhausen on 2023-01-29
Written by: J.R.R. Tolkien, and others
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The Children of Hurin
- Written by: J. R. R. Tolkien
- Narrated by: Christopher Lee
- Length: 7 hrs and 51 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 278
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars 245
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 244
There are tales of Middle-earth from times long before The Lord of the Rings. The story told in this book is set in the great country that lay beyond the Grey Havens in the West: lands where Treebeard once walked, but which were drowned in the great cataclysm that ended the First Age of the World.
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1 out of 5 stars
-
Poorly organized
- By MistahMojoRyan on 2018-08-17
Written by: J. R. R. Tolkien
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Beren and Lúthien
- Written by: Christopher Tolkien, J. R. R. Tolkien
- Narrated by: Timothy West, Samuel West
- Length: 6 hrs and 54 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 80
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 65
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 65
Beren was a mortal man, but Lúthien was an immortal Elf. Her father, a great Elvish lord, was deeply opposed to Beren, and imposed on him an impossible task that he must perform before he might wed Lúthien. Undaunted by Lord Thingol’s challenge, Beren and Lúthien embark on the supremely heroic attempt to rob Morgoth, the greatest of all evil beings, of a Silmaril, one of the hallowed jewels that adorn the Black Enemy’s crown.
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3 out of 5 stars
-
Good Text, Strange Format.
- By Anonymous User on 2020-11-03
Written by: Christopher Tolkien, and others
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Tales from the Perilous Realm
- Written by: J. R. R. Tolkien
- Narrated by: Derek Jacobi
- Length: 7 hrs and 42 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 36
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 33
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 33
Combined into one volume, this is the definitive collection of Tolkien's five acclaimed modern classic 'fairie' tales in the vein of The Hobbit, read by Derek Jacobi. The five tales are written with the same skill, quality and charm that made The Hobbit a classic. Largely overlooked because of their short lengths, they are joined here in one volume which reaffirms Tolkien's place as a master storyteller for listeners young and old.
-
4 out of 5 stars
-
The short stories are great, however...
- By Linda in Nepean, Canada on 2023-08-01
Written by: J. R. R. Tolkien
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The Silmarillion
- Written by: J. R. R. Tolkien
- Narrated by: Martin Shaw
- Length: 14 hrs and 49 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 866
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 729
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 729
The complete unabridged audiobook of J.R.R Tolkien's The Silmarillion. The Silmarillion is an account of the Elder Days, of the First Age of Tolkien’s world. It is the ancient drama to which the characters in The Lord of the Rings look back, and in whose events some of them such as Elrond and Galadriel took part.
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3 out of 5 stars
-
A truly epic tale, just not good as an audiobook
- By CullenJ on 2019-03-15
Written by: J. R. R. Tolkien
-
The Fall of Gondolin
- Written by: Christopher Tolkien, J. R. R. Tolkien
- Narrated by: Timothy West, Samuel West
- Length: 8 hrs and 18 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 87
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars 70
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 70
Gondolin, beautiful but undiscoverable, is central to the enmity of two of the greatest powers in the world. Morgoth of the uttermost evil seeks in vain to discover the marvellously hidden city of his Elven enemies, while the gods in Valinor refuse to support Ulmo Lord of Waters' designs to protect it. Into this world comes Tuor, cousin of Túrin, and guided unseen by Ulmo he sets out on the fearful journey to Gondolin to warn them of their coming doom.
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
Excellent
- By Anonymous User on 2021-03-03
Written by: Christopher Tolkien, and others
-
The Fall of Númenor
- And Other Tales from the Second Age of Middle-Earth
- Written by: J.R.R. Tolkien, Brian Sibley - editor
- Narrated by: Samuel West, Brian Sibley
- Length: 10 hrs and 52 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 42
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 35
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 35
J.R.R. Tolkien famously described the Second Age of Middle-earth as a ‘dark age, and not very much of its history is (or need be) told’. And for many years readers would need to be content with the tantalizing glimpses of it found within the pages of The Lord of the Rings and its appendices, including the forging of the Rings of Power, the building of the Barad-dûr and the rise of Sauron.
-
4 out of 5 stars
-
Different ratings for different readers….
- By Anastasia Beaverhausen on 2023-01-29
Written by: J.R.R. Tolkien, and others
-
The Children of Hurin
- Written by: J. R. R. Tolkien
- Narrated by: Christopher Lee
- Length: 7 hrs and 51 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 278
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars 245
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 244
There are tales of Middle-earth from times long before The Lord of the Rings. The story told in this book is set in the great country that lay beyond the Grey Havens in the West: lands where Treebeard once walked, but which were drowned in the great cataclysm that ended the First Age of the World.
-
1 out of 5 stars
-
Poorly organized
- By MistahMojoRyan on 2018-08-17
Written by: J. R. R. Tolkien
-
Beren and Lúthien
- Written by: Christopher Tolkien, J. R. R. Tolkien
- Narrated by: Timothy West, Samuel West
- Length: 6 hrs and 54 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 80
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 65
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 65
Beren was a mortal man, but Lúthien was an immortal Elf. Her father, a great Elvish lord, was deeply opposed to Beren, and imposed on him an impossible task that he must perform before he might wed Lúthien. Undaunted by Lord Thingol’s challenge, Beren and Lúthien embark on the supremely heroic attempt to rob Morgoth, the greatest of all evil beings, of a Silmaril, one of the hallowed jewels that adorn the Black Enemy’s crown.
-
3 out of 5 stars
-
Good Text, Strange Format.
- By Anonymous User on 2020-11-03
Written by: Christopher Tolkien, and others
-
Tales from the Perilous Realm
- Written by: J. R. R. Tolkien
- Narrated by: Derek Jacobi
- Length: 7 hrs and 42 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 36
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 33
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 33
Combined into one volume, this is the definitive collection of Tolkien's five acclaimed modern classic 'fairie' tales in the vein of The Hobbit, read by Derek Jacobi. The five tales are written with the same skill, quality and charm that made The Hobbit a classic. Largely overlooked because of their short lengths, they are joined here in one volume which reaffirms Tolkien's place as a master storyteller for listeners young and old.
-
4 out of 5 stars
-
The short stories are great, however...
- By Linda in Nepean, Canada on 2023-08-01
Written by: J. R. R. Tolkien
-
The Silmarillion
- Written by: J. R. R. Tolkien
- Narrated by: Martin Shaw
- Length: 14 hrs and 49 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 866
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 729
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 729
The complete unabridged audiobook of J.R.R Tolkien's The Silmarillion. The Silmarillion is an account of the Elder Days, of the First Age of Tolkien’s world. It is the ancient drama to which the characters in The Lord of the Rings look back, and in whose events some of them such as Elrond and Galadriel took part.
-
3 out of 5 stars
-
A truly epic tale, just not good as an audiobook
- By CullenJ on 2019-03-15
Written by: J. R. R. Tolkien
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The Adventures of Tom Bombadil
- Written by: J. R. R. Tolkien
- Narrated by: Sir Derek Jacobi
- Length: 1 hr and 22 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4 out of 5 stars 33
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Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 29
-
Story4 out of 5 stars 29
The Adventures of Tom Bombadil is a collection of poetry written by J. R. R. Tolkien and was first published in 1962. The audio is read by Sir Derek Jacobi and is a collection of 16 poems that contain an assortment of bestiary verse and fairy tale rhyme. It is a stunning recording that captures all the characters in their own charming and mysterious ways.
Written by: J. R. R. Tolkien
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The Homecoming of Beorhtnoth
- Written by: J. R. R. Tolkien
- Narrated by: Christopher Tolkien
- Length: 56 mins
- Unabridged
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Overall4 out of 5 stars 2
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Performance4 out of 5 stars 1
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Story3 out of 5 stars 1
The Homecoming of Beorhtnoth Beorhthelm’s Son was originally published in the 1953 edition of Essays and Studies. In December of that year, J.R.R. Tolkien took possession of a reel-to-reel tape recorder and, some time during the first few months of 1954, decided to record ‘the whole thing on tape’ as a way of ‘testing’ the performative quality of the dramatic dialogue between Tídwald and Torhthelm.
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4 out of 5 stars
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Professor Tolkien Time Capsule
- By Severyn on 2023-11-27
Written by: J. R. R. Tolkien
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Sir Gawain and the Green Knight
- Written by: J. R. R. Tolkien
- Narrated by: Terry Jones
- Length: 4 hrs and 25 mins
- Unabridged
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Overall4 out of 5 stars 18
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Performance4 out of 5 stars 16
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Story4 out of 5 stars 16
A collection of three medieval English poems, translated by Tolkien for the modern-day reader and containing romance, tragedy, love, sex and honour.
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3 out of 5 stars
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Interesting but....
- By ELIZABETH L ROSS on 2019-05-09
Written by: J. R. R. Tolkien
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The Letters of J. R. R. Tolkien
- Revised and Expanded edition
- Written by: J. R. R. Tolkien, Humphrey Carpenter - editor, Christopher Tolkien - editor
- Narrated by: Samuel West, Mike Grady, Chris Smith
- Length: 29 hrs and 2 mins
- Unabridged
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Overall5 out of 5 stars 1
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Performance5 out of 5 stars 1
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Story5 out of 5 stars 1
The comprehensive collection of letters spanning the adult life of one of the world’s greatest storytellers, now revised and expanded to include more than 150 previously unseen letters, with revealing new insights into The Hobbit, The Lord of the Rings and The Silmarillion.
Written by: J. R. R. Tolkien, and others
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The Science of Middle-Earth
- A New Understanding of Tolkien and His World
- Written by: Roland Lehoucq, Loïc Mangin, Jean-Sébastien Steyer
- Narrated by: Ralph Lister
- Length: 13 hrs and 36 mins
- Unabridged
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Overall5 out of 5 stars 2
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Performance5 out of 5 stars 1
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Story5 out of 5 stars 1
The world J.R.R. Tolkien created is one of the most beloved in all of literature, and continues to capture hearts and imaginations around the world. From Oxford to ComiCon, the Middle Earth is analyzed and interpreted through a multitude of perspectives. But one essential facet of Tolkien and his Middle Earth has been overlooked: science.
Written by: Roland Lehoucq, and others
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A Rare Recording of J. R. R. Tolkien
- Written by: J. R. R. Tolkien
- Narrated by: J. R. R. Tolkien
- Length: 42 mins
- Original Recording
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Overall5 out of 5 stars 4
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Performance5 out of 5 stars 4
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Story5 out of 5 stars 4
J. R. R. Tolkien was an English writer, poet, philologist, and university professor best known as the author of fantasy works like "The Hobbit" and "Lord of the Rings." Listen as Tolkien reads "The Adventures of Tom Bombadil," "The Hoard," "Perry-The-Winkle," and "The Man in the Moon Came Down Too Soon." Also included is a reading of "A Elbereth Gilthoniel" in Elvish and "The Road Goes Ever on," sung by William Elvin with music by Donald Swann.
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5 out of 5 stars
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A+
- By Cait Sidhe on 2023-08-10
Written by: J. R. R. Tolkien
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The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring
- A Full-Cast BBC Radio Dramatisation
- Written by: Richard O'Callaghan, J. R. R. Tolkien
- Narrated by: Peter Woodthorpe, Robert Stephens, Michael Hordern, and others
- Length: 4 hrs and 35 mins
- Original Recording
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Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 167
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Performance5 out of 5 stars 139
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Story4.5 out of 5 stars 138
Part One, The Fellowship of the Ring, introduces us to Frodo Baggins. With his uncle Bilbo having mysteriously disappeared, Frodo finds himself in possession of a simple gold ring that has great and evil power. It is the Ruling Ring, taken long ago from the Dark Lord, Sauron, who now seeks to possess it again. Frodo must do everything he can to prevent this, and with the help of Gandalf the wizard and a band of loyal companions he begins a perilous journey across Middle-earth.
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1 out of 5 stars
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This is NOT a reading of the book.
- By Flippy on 2019-12-30
Written by: Richard O'Callaghan, and others
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Dune
- Written by: Frank Herbert
- Narrated by: Scott Brick, Orlagh Cassidy, Euan Morton, and others
- Length: 21 hrs and 2 mins
- Unabridged
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Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 5,296
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Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 4,560
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Story4.5 out of 5 stars 4,537
Here is the novel that will be forever considered a triumph of the imagination. Set on the desert planet Arrakis, Dune is the story of the boy Paul Atreides, who would become the mysterious man known as Maud'dib. He would avenge the traitorous plot against his noble family and would bring to fruition humankind's most ancient and unattainable dream.
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4 out of 5 stars
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Great story... but inconsistent voices?
- By KT_TO on 2018-01-11
Written by: Frank Herbert
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Norse Mythology: The Prose Edda and The Poetic Edda Complete and Unabridged Collection
- Also including Even More Myths of the Norsemen and Told by the Northmen (Stories from the Eddas and Sagas)
- Written by: Henry Adams Bellows, Arthur Gilchrist Brodeur, H.A Guerber, and others
- Narrated by: Jim D. Johnston
- Length: 29 hrs
- Unabridged
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Overall0 out of 5 stars 0
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Performance0 out of 5 stars 0
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Story0 out of 5 stars 0
"Myths of the Norsemen" by H.A. Guerber is an extensive retelling of the legends and myths of the Norse pantheon. Published in the early 20th century, Guerber's work is one of the most comprehensive and accessible English renditions of the stories of the Norse gods, goddesses, heroes, and the world they inhabit.
Written by: Henry Adams Bellows, and others
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A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms
- A Song of Ice and Fire
- Written by: George R. R. Martin
- Narrated by: Harry Lloyd
- Length: 10 hrs
- Unabridged
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Overall5 out of 5 stars 729
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Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 644
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Story5 out of 5 stars 644
A young, naïve but ultimately courageous hedge knight, Ser Duncan the Tall towers above his rivals—in stature if not experience. Tagging along is his diminutive squire, a boy called Egg—whose true name is hidden from all he and Dunk encounter. Though more improbable heroes may not be found in all of Westeros, great destinies lay ahead for these two . . . as do powerful foes, royal intrigue, and outrageous exploits. Featuring more than 160 all-new illustrations by Gary Gianni, A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms is a must-have collection that proves chivalry isn’t dead—yet.
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4 out of 5 stars
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Lacking performance supported by Martin's captivat
- By Anonymous User on 2018-07-20
Written by: George R. R. Martin
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The Chronicles of Narnia Complete Audio Collection
- Written by: C. S. Lewis
- Narrated by: Kenneth Branagh, Alex Jennings, Michael York, and others
- Length: 33 hrs and 45 mins
- Unabridged
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Overall5 out of 5 stars 832
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Performance5 out of 5 stars 681
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Story5 out of 5 stars 681
For over 60 years, readers of all ages have been enchanted by the magical realms, the epic battles between good and evil, and the unforgettable creatures of Narnia. This box set includes all seven titles in The Chronicles of Narnia - The Magician's Nephew; The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe; The Horse and His Boy; Prince Caspian; The Voyage of the Dawn Treader; The Silver Chair; and The Last Battle.
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5 out of 5 stars
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Great Story
- By SarabeeMe on 2020-02-05
Written by: C. S. Lewis
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1177 B.C. (Revised and Updated)
- The Year Civilization Collapsed
- Written by: Eric H. Cline
- Narrated by: Eric H. Cline
- Length: 10 hrs and 47 mins
- Unabridged
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Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 26
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Performance4 out of 5 stars 23
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Story4.5 out of 5 stars 23
This audiobook narrated by acclaimed archaeologist and best-selling author Eric Cline offers a breathtaking account of how the collapse of an ancient civilized world ushered in the first Dark Ages.
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2 out of 5 stars
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Was expecting more definitive work
- By Anonymous User on 2024-09-14
Written by: Eric H. Cline
What the critics say
"Another monument to the incredible imagination of Tolkien." (Sunday Telegraph)
"Moments of mythic grandeur." (Sunday Times)
What listeners say about Unfinished Tales
Average Customer RatingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story4 out of 5 stars
- Bruce Novakowski
- 2023-04-17
Deeper into the World and Lore of Middle Earth
*ONLY for hardcore Tolkien and Middle Earth fans* Should only be read or listened to if you’ve already read The Lord of the Rings, The Hobbit and The Silmarillion, and are still hungry for more Middle Earth stories and content. Then this is the book for you! Amazing stories and writings from Professor Tolkien, edited by his son Christopher Tolkien. This next entry, after the Silmarillion, brings you deeper into the world of Middle Earth with more stories, notes and context added into already established tales of Middle Earth. The narrator does a fantastic job. The audiobook switches between narrators for when it is the words and writings of Tolkien himself versus interjections and footnotes by Christopher Tolkien. Makes it very clear. The notes by Christopher tend to be more academic interjection, clarification and asides in general. Although the stories and writing can be rather dry and academic at times, since these are incomplete works (as the title suggests). But to be expected with a novel based on incomplete stories and notes. Overall an incredibly satisfying, thoroughly enjoyable listen for the hardcore Tolkien fan. Adds so much more richness and depth to the world of Middle Earth. Loved the story The Children of Hurin and Turin Turambar. EPIC.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Jordan E.
- 2021-05-06
Please do History of Middle-earth!!
These two narrators are PERFECT. I said it in review of the Fall of Gondolin as well. Please do the History of Middle-earth series. Myself and many many others would absolutely love it. The Tolkien community needs more and more audio!
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1 person found this helpful
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story4 out of 5 stars
- Ross & Kathy
- 2022-09-19
some good stories, much academic background
It provides a good bit of background on the originalbooks and some good stories but there is also a lot of academic discussion on trivia about the imagined world, languages, histories and on the development of the books.
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story4 out of 5 stars
- Brittany de Sousa
- 2023-12-16
This audiobook was somewhat long at times, but very enjoyable!
I say long, because there was a 5-hour chapter (with an hour-long appendix afterwards), of a story that had featured in the Silmarillion. The rest of the book was wonderful, and mostly new stories or information I hadn’t heard in other Tolkien books.
The main reason I downloaded this audiobook was for the story of Galadriel and Celeborn. I was a little disappointed in their story, as it wasn’t as straightforward as I would have liked, but I did enjoy it nonetheless.
I think the surprises in this book came from the information about Gandalf’s travels and his meddling when it came to the fight against Sauron, and all the background information we got about Gondor and Rohan. I really enjoyed listening to this chapters!
This was a wonderful book for those who love the world of Tolkien. The narrators divided the narration perfectly - one distinct voice for the bits of story, and one voice for the real-world information and commentary.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Anonymous User
- 2022-11-09
Was skeptical of 2 narrators, but I loved it
Such in depth information on loved characters, absolutely worth listening to. Really loved this
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Bella Bekah
- 2022-09-17
Worth the read/listen
If you’re a LOTR fan it’s worth every minute if you aren’t it might seem tedious. But it was excellently done and really good
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Robert Kennedy
- 2023-08-02
Great reading and background on the Tolkien Mythos
This was a great listen. The first half of the book is more on Numenor and the second is more on Middle Earth!
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Tihemme Gagnon
- 2021-05-13
Brilliant handling of complex material
I was sceptical a book this complex and notes-dependent could possibly be pulled off as an audiobook. The casting of father and son narrators Timothy and Samuel West was a stroke of genius. Samuel (the son) narrates the story portions by J.R.R. Tolkien - who would have been younger as writer than Christopher was as his posthumous editor - while the older Timothy chimes in with Christopher Tolkien’s notes. The result is a brilliant execution of an otherwise incredibly complicated read. My favourite chapter of the audiobook is the Quest for Erebor, in which Galdalf recalls to Frodo, Pippin, Merry and Gimli the dragging of Bilbo into Thorin’s quest, during which I laughed out loud frequently. The retelling of Turin’s tale is perhaps the most laborious section, which I feel is reflective of this version of the story compared to those in the Silmarillion and Children of Hurin rather than the talents of the narrators.
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3 people found this helpful
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Overall3 out of 5 stars
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Performance4 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Wrong colours.. itchy seams
- 2024-01-05
Basically Unusable Table of Contents
Most people know what they're going to get when it comes to Tolkien's unfinished works.. but it's great as always.
This review is more about this actual audiobook.. 1st off omg how can you mess up the chapter formatting this badly?! The 1st story actually starts right after Part 1, which it shouldn't.. but after about an hour it just switches MID-WORD to where the Table of Contents says the 1st story should start.. and even then they don't seperate any of the chapters so there's like multi-hour chapters, some like 4-6 hours long! There's also parts that repeat sentences as well. It's incredibly annoying to me that something that should be listened to by an editor or something clearly wasn't even listened over even once by anyone before publishing and then they charge more than a hardcover book for this shoddy work.
Secondly, when it comes to the performance of the narrators it was hit and miss. I think Samuel West is great, but I can't stand Timothy West.. when the later speaks I imagine a fat English bulldog with massive jowels huffing and puffing, it just sounds like he's blustering all the time lol. I just can't stand his voice! I can get past that though, it's not like he did a bad job.. I just hate his actual voice, and it massively helps that Samuel does like 90%+ of the narration
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Overall3 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story3 out of 5 stars
- Louise D. Maryniak
- 2024-10-10
Too much as to make it boring.
Although a huge fan of books and film, I felt I would have had to be a long researching scholor to make connection with the focus of this book. Although I tried, I had to give up.
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