Houghton Mifflin, 2003, $18.95, ISBN 0-618-39100-2, 218 pages, 8.5 x 11 inch softcover

Upon first glance, I thought this would be one of those hokey coffee-table books with lots of photos and little else. However, while the illustration and photos matched that thought, the text impressed me far more than I thought possible. While still a coffee-table style book, it's an interesting one that seeks to be a "history" book of Middle Earth, packed with movie stills and illustrations.

Yes, it's written as if everything in the movie was reality. It's a nice slant to the usual approach, and I enjoyed reading small distillations of Middle Earth "history" interspersed with salient features of the arms and armor. There's even a chart on bow ranges (p. 31). I'm not all that certain about Legolas' bow being able to ourrange (400 yards) a trebouchet (250 yards), but there you have it.

Note: All information refers to the movie, with some backing info from Tolkien. At times, the info, like the movie, contradicts the books--and indeed sometimes contradicts itself at various points in the text.

But by and large this is an interesting work. Those who would paint LotR miniatures will enjoy the color close ups of warriors and commanders. Those who have an interest in LotR weapons and warfare, as I do, will enjoy this book tremendously.

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