Excellent audiobook for lovers of the Lord of the Rings. The BBC did a great production, with excellent actors and sound effects. This isn't a reading of the novel; it is a radio drama. Definitely worth the listen.

The truest and best adaptation. Bar none.

Terrific interpretation. I've listened numerous times. In some ways I enjoy more than the movies. Primarily, I think Ian Holm makes a great Frodo. Brian Sibley nailed it with this BBC radio adaptation!

The casting was fantastic and the atmosphere was well conveyed. I enjoyed the experience mostly due to the fact that some of the "boring" and lengthy parts of the original were omitted in favor of the overall story.

Great dramatization. I listened to this dramatized version on my way to work. Because it was an adaptation, I'm counting this as only one book, not three. I think it's the second time I've listened through these CDs. I was going to finish on my birthday (March 24), but I heard that Sauron was defeated on March 25, so I put it off until then.

This was fantastic, and so much fun listening to in the car while driving. There were a couple times that the acting seemed slightly over the top, but overall it was really amazing, and those moments didn't distract from the story at all.

Now all I want to do is reread the book and rewatch the films...

Long considered one of the best adaptations of the Lord of the Rings, this audio drama deserves all the praise it receives.

The voice acting is excellent, with Ian Holm as Frodo, and the actor as Gollum standing out in particular.

This series manages to pull together the various components of Lord of the Rings, while skipping over some of the extraneous details (sorry Tom Bombadil :( ).

The series excels at making engaging and riveting dialogue choices; however, it struggles some during the various fights and combats in the story. The lack of a major narrator presence means most fights are the various characters yelling, some clangs, and orc yells and squeaks, and after the fact the characters summing things up "Oh that was a close call with that orc spear Mr. Frodo." While this works, it doesn't quite allow a listener to picture what action is taking place. I could see this as particularly challenging if someone isn't already familiar with the scenes.

Some of the sound effect choices are not great, while others are amazing. The Ringwraith's scream for instance is funny, rather then horrifying, but the jingle of horse reigns for Shadowfax, as well as the accompanying music, works quite well.

A final note, the songs of Lord of the Rings are things that I think any adaptation will struggle with. the BBC Radio Collection is no different. Some of them are very well done, while others, particularly the song once the King returns, are piercing and nearly un-listenable.

Overall, well worth a listen for any Tolkien fan, though I may not suggest it as a first introduction to the series.

Did you know that amidst the throes of World War II, Tolsky dispatched drafts of his burgeoning masterpiece, "The Lord of the Rings," to his son Christopher, then stationed in South Africa? Captivated by the timeless saga of good versus evil, Christopher shared the unfolding tale with his comrades during the tranquil hours of the evening. These nightly readings became a cherished ritual, offering a glimmer of hope amid the chaos of war. As the South African Air Force grappled with adversity, these stories emerged as a source of unity and resilience, inspiring the troops to persevere and ultimately alter the course of the conflict in South Africa's favor.

This fascinating anecdote adds a poignant layer to the enchanting tale that is Tolkien's "The Lord of the Rings" trilogy. Consisting of "The Fellowship of the Ring," "The Two Towers," and "The Return of the King," this trilogy is a masterpiece of fantasy literature that transports readers to the magical realm of Middle-earth.

In "The Lord of the Rings," Tolkien beckons us into an extraordinary odyssey, where hobbits, elves, dwarves, and men unite in a quest to vanquish the ominous figure of Sauron. Through Tolkien's lyrical prose and vibrant imagination, Middle-earth burst forth in all its splendor and peril, a realm where valor and solidarity sway.

"The Fellowship of the Ring" introduces us to Frodo Baggins and his intrepid companions as they embark on a perilous quest to rid the world of the One Ring's malevolent influence. In "The Two Towers," the fellowship confronts formidable trials and unforeseen alliances in their relentless struggle against the encroaching darkness. In "The Return of the King," the destiny of Middle-earth teeters on the brink as heroes rise to meet their fate and usher in a new era.

Although this book is traditionally placed in the Fantasy genre, it is equally categorized as literary fiction with its rich descriptions and character development. Tolkien's trilogy transcends the bounds of traditional fantasy, evolving into a timeless saga of camaraderie, self-sacrifice, and the enduring triumph of righteousness over malevolence. With its sweeping vistas, this trilogy not only ignites the imagination but also delves into the depths of the human condition, reminding us of the enduring power of hope and the resilience of the human spirit.

So, whether you're a seasoned voyager of Middle-earth or embarking on your maiden journey, Tolkien's "The Lord of the Rings" trilogy promises an unforgettable expedition into a realm where magic and literary finesse converge in perfect harmony.

I must have first heard this when it was first broadcast on NPR in the US, apparently in 1982, going by Wiki - I still have the distinct memory of Tammy Grimes' intros, which were done specifically for NPR, and are not present on the CD box set that I finally obtained a few months ago, and listened to in April over about a week when I had to drive a couple of hours round-trip every day.

I'm not an audio book guy, and I normally listen to the news or music when driving - and driving is really the only part of my day where I listen to anything - so perhaps it isn't surprising that it took me decades before I cared enough to go back to this radio drama which had been a wonderful moment in my youth. It's not a substitute for the novel of course, and it wasn't when I first listened to it at 16-17, having read the book about 3 years earlier, and then as now I really regret the absence of Tom Bombadil, left out of every adaptation of the novel thus far I believe. And it's understandable why this segment doesn't "belong" as it's something of an aside from the main plot - but I think it's an important glimpse into Tolkien's concept of "faerie" and it contains some of the more evocative writing in the work, so I still miss it. Thankfully we do get "The Scouring of the Shire" and that alone makes this a more faithful rendition in it's way than Jackson's cinematic trilogy.

But enough of what's left out and specifics about plot - I don't have any desire to write a dozen paragraphs here and who's going to read it? This is overall a wonderful production with a first-rate voice cast of mostly British theater actors, the most familiar of whom to this cinema fan are Michael Hordern (Gandalf) and Ian Holm (Frodo). Holm later played Bilbo in Jackson's LOTR adaptation, and he and Hordern are just perfect, and have not yet been bettered. It took me a while to get used to Robert Stephens as Aragorn - he's got a rather rough and strong accent, but by the end of production he won me over, and his voice and accent seem to change a bit as well, as his station and prominence in the story change. Peter Woodthorpe's Gollum is another highlight, and Woodthorpe was also in the Ralph Bakshi animated version of the first half of the novel in 1978, though if pushed in this instance I might pick Andy Serkis in the Jackson films as equally definitive, or perhaps even edging out Woodthorpe slightly.

The music by Stephen Oliver is excellent as well, evoking much early 20th-century British classical music, particularly Vaughan Williams, and the whole thing is a nicely produced work in the 2002 CD box set. There was an earlier 1979 American radio dramatization from The Mind's Eye, which I have dim memories of hearing as well; I suspect it's not nearly as good, by reputation it's rather amateurish, but as someone still in lifelong-love with Tolkien, I'll probably give it a go at some point. In the meantime I would recommend this set most highly - if you still like physical media, the CD set is beautifully put together, but I'm sure it can be listened to in other ways as well.

I enjoy fantasy, but this is too old school for me - too masculine, too many characters. I prefer a lighter read with more contemporary language (or maybe more juvenile language).

Absolutely delightful adaptation, a wonderful companion to the epic fantasy saga for audio fans

Still phenomenal and a good read