The Lord of the Rings: Weapons and Warfare by Chris Smith

The Lord of the Rings: Weapons and Warfare Reviews

• 
  Mikayla

  A wonderful resource for those in love with the books and movies. You get to see the weaponry up close and personal and find a greater understanding of the choices made as far as battle and defense mechanisms throughout the movie. As a huge fan of LOTR this is an invaluable guide for those wanting a more in-depth look at the components that made the film so spectacular.
• 
  Mike (the Paladin)

  I got this mostly because:
  A. I'm a Tolkien fan (and)
  B. I'm a gamer (Dungeons and Dragons table top) and try to make the weapons as "fantasy realistic" as I can.
  
  This book mostly leans heavily on the movie but still is a pretty good book. If you are big time into the movies you may enjoy it more, but any fantasy fan will probably enjoy it at least somewhat.
• 
  Jeremiah

  Any book with LTR & weapons in the title has got to be cool, and it was! This may be a little bit of geek overload but after falling (nearly) more deeply in love with these movies than I am with my wife I'm proud to be geekified through and through.
• 
  Alice Rachel

  *more slobbering* Ugh, these books are SO beautiful!!!!!! *hisses* My Preeeecious!!!
• 
  Shane

  I own quite a few books like this, scaled a bit bigger than printer paper, full-color, lavishly illustrated. Many of them are Star Wars books, but the Lord of the Rings and Hobbit movies went down a similar path and released books detailing the production of the films - props, costumes, and so on - and detailing races or cultures or the like based on what they carried or how they dressed. Some of them focus on geography (as this one too peaks in to), but most are about people and things.
  
  So, in comparison to all of the others like it, how does Weapons and Warfare rate? The pictures are beautiful and the essays contain information that even the most diehard Tolkien fan will learn something from.
  
  But this particular book is a bit stilted in its presentation because it tries to be a work of history, the conceit being that the events of the LOTR happened in the past and the book shows various artifacts and reconstructs various societal and political structures based on archeological evidence. So, for example when they show the rings of power they are "replicas" of the rings. When a prop is shown it is sometimes described as a re-creation, as if someone had studied the past and this was the best they could come up with. All of this is sort of layered on, as if someone had the thought that some of these models look like models, some props like props, and maybe this is the reason why. It's all a bit unnecessary and the book lost a star from me because of it.
  
  Overall though a fan of the books or movies will find a lot to like here.
  
  Recommended, with some reservations.
• 
  Parka

  
  
  (
  More pictures at parkablogs.com)
  
  This is the movie visual companion that looks specifically at the weapons and history of warfare in The Lord of the Rings.
  
  There are lots of photos of the weapons and armor featured in the movie, with occasional concept sketches. The writeup is incredibly detailed. There are lengthy discussions on the major battles, war zones, warriors, and other forms of weapon from Frodo's Sting sword to the scary Grond battling ram or the gigantic elephant-like Mumakil. There's even a range chart on how far different type of arrows can fly.
  
  This isn't really a making-of book so you're won't read anything like how uncomfortable the actors felt while in suit. You'll know what type of wood Legolas' bow is made of, but not of the movie prop bow.
  
  This is the book for all LOTR fans fascinated with weaponry and warfare.
• 
  John Gentry

  here's why this book only gets three stars: it focuses way too much on just the movies. here's why it doesn't get two stars: there is still some pretty amazing information going on here, as well as some great original illustrations.
• 
  Tammy

  Thanks for letting me borrow it for so long, Ted!
• 
  Ruben Mes

  My childhood captured in one book.
  
  It's faithful to the movies, not Tolkien's books, but I find it to be gentle and pleasant in its speculations and it reads smoothly and compellingly. The chapters proceed very nicely, and they feel coherent and well built-up.
  
  It is perfect for what it is. And I feel great reading it. What it is, is an overview of the essence of the movie 'canon', with concept art purported to come from ME sources instead of Weta, and intruiging reflections and theories made by the author based on the movies. It is meant to inform and enthrall. And it does that just so well.
  
  Christopher Lee's foreword reflects what I have also felt: that Tolkien's work embodies an elevated epic, on the grandest scale, whose power is timeless and undiminished. Jackson captured that essence superbly, and that is what makes this book so good.
  
  It is probably mostly a nostalgia treat for us whom LoTR was their greatest obsession and passion in childhood/adolescence, but I can also recommend it to people who are interested in just dipping their toes again into the wonder of the movies, and dream about the world that Jackson and Weta helped flesh out.
  
  It's just really, really great. Honestly, I just love this book so much.
  
  However, if you're looking for poetry and lore, I would refer you to Tolkien himself.
• 
  Antholo

  Este libro repleto de dibujos y fotografías nos ofrece una información que no se da en las películas y que sólo lo podríamos encontrar leyéndose los libros. Aparte de las armas y armaduras de los personajes más importantes de la trilogía del Señor de los Anillos también nos relatan los sucesos más importantes como si de un texto histórico se tratara. Es un libro resumen bastante útil.
  Los detalles sobre el empleo y el diseño de las armas y armaduras nos hace una idea de la profundización a la que llegó Tolkien desarrollando las distintas Culturas de las distintas razas de la Tierra Media.
• 
  Shaymaa Aly

  I own quite a few books like this, scaled a bit bigger than printer paper, full-color, lavishly illustrated. Many of them are Star Wars books, but the Lord of the Rings and Hobbit movies went down a similar path and released books detailing the production of the films - props, costumes, and so on - and detailing races or cultures or the like based on what they carried or how they dressed. Some of them focus on geography (as this one too peaks in to), but most are about people and things.
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• 
  Mark S.

  Obviously slapped together to take advantage of the success of the films. The art work is nice, but it is rather apparent that the authors did not read the books or even pay too much attention to the films.
• 
  Marko Jevtić

  It's a very interesting compendium of the LotR knowledge, focused on weapons used in wars throughout the trilogy. The most fascinating aspect is definitely the great visualization of each major battle. The 2nd best part of it is definitely the foreword written by Christopher Lee.
• 
  Purity

  woow, i really enjoyed reading this book, it was so interesting that i could not put it down even for a second... GREAT work Smith! you deserved a five star..
  
  Thanks.
• 
  Amie Cartwright

  Excellent read!
• 
  Tina Chandler

  Reads like a history book of the races of Middle-Earth. Filled with many pictures amd examples of the weapons, tactics and races of the Third Age.
• 
  Lyden Orbase

  Please note that this is a companion to the MOVIES, not the book.
  It's a great item to have for LOTR fans. The photos are beautiful; the weapons, armours, etc, are shown in details.
  I loved it.
• 
  Toruma

  This book is actually fantastic. It's a must read for all of us that love living in Middle Earth.
• 
  Nathan

  Finally finished. Enjoyable, but a long read. Enjoyed the photos from the movie.
• 
  Ryan McCarthy

  Really good read but I guess I was hoping for more of an analysis and less of an encyclopedia.
• 
  Mohan Upreti

  All time favourite!