2 ms·
I used to sometimes see random volumes from the middle of The History of Middle-earth series sitting in airport bookstores. I'd look at that and just feel sorry
by Steuard 9y ago
I used to sometimes see random volumes from the middle of The History of Middle-earth series sitting in airport bookstores. I'd look at that and just feel sorry for anyone who thought "Oh, I loved The Hobbit! I'm looking for something to read on the plane: maybe this book The Shaping of Middle-earth will be fun." Even Unfinished Tales or The Silmarillion could be more or less reasonable there, but this felt like tricking people into buying a specialized third-year college textbook.
- duskwuff 9y agoPart of the problem -- in my opinion -- was that the publisher treated The History of Middle-Earth like a typical fantasy series. Mass market paperback edition, cover art, the works. A different presentation might have made it more clear that it was a scholarly work, not a novel. (Or perhaps that was the intent. Sigh...)