LOTR 7-volume editions

[Stevil2001]

For reasons that pass understanding, I have an interest in a 7-volume edition of The Lord of the Rings, one which splits Tolkien's six books out separately and puts the appendices in their own volume. My research shows that there are two of these:

the classy Millennium Edition
cheaper movie tie-in set

Any thoughts on either of these? That Millennium one looks slick. Though I think the splitting up of TOLKIEN on both sets looks a little dopey. Did I miss out on another one out there somewhere?

 

[The Nth Doctor]

I've seen the Millennium Edition before and I agree it looks slick (and I like the splitting up of "Tolkien"). Other than that, I don't have anything to add.

 

[Klaus]

I have them [I have 11 2/3 different editions of LotR lol]... they look slick, but the quality isn't the highest -- maybe it's just that I'm used to the solidity of the one-volume editions but they feel a little cheesy... they sure do look purty on the shelf though... just don't plan on making them a reading copy I'd say.

 

[Neroon]

Much depends upon how you feel about LOTR overall. Is it one of your favorite literary works ever? Then I'd say pay the extra coin to pick up the Millennium Edition. I love books and thoroughly enjoy the feel of having shelves of them around, so to me the extra money would be well spent. Of course, that presumes that they come with decent binding and will last. They are made to be read, after all. Maybe not to be loaned outside the house, mind you ......

 

[cardinal biggles]

I think I saw the Millennium Edition somewhere at some point. I wasn't interested in LOTR at the time, so I passed on it.

I have to admit, I clicked on this thread afraid I'd be reading about yet another version of the Peter Jackson films on DVD...

 

[S. Gomez]

The first edition I ever owned was that seven-volume movie tie-in. It was a Christmas gift and I exchanged it for the three-volume hardcover with artwork based on Tolkien's own designs (very pretty, but it also dropped a whole line of the Ring inscription). Since then I've bought three different editions, all single-volume, all intended to replace the previous copy. I don't think I could ever go back to having them split up.

I wonder how many more I'll have bought when I die...

 

[Klaus]

This is the favorite 1-vol. edition I have... bought it for about $15 almost thirty years ago: http://www.tolkienlibrary.com/dmiller/000467.htm

...and I said 2/3 above because I've managed to get FotR and RotK from the infamous Ace pirate pb edition, gotta get TTT sometime.

 

[OmahaStar]

I wonder how many more I'll have bought when I die...

Way too many?

 

[Neroon]

This is the favorite 1-vol. edition I have... bought it for about $15 almost thirty years ago: http://www.tolkienlibrary.com/dmiller/000467.htm

...and I said 2/3 above because I've managed to get FotR and RotK from the infamous Ace pirate pb edition, gotta get TTT sometime.

Interesting!

This is my personal favorite edition, as it's the very first copy I ever read. Granted, the one I own today I bought after the filmed trilogy came out, but it seems quite durable and solid.

 

[S. Gomez]

This is the favorite 1-vol. edition I have... bought it for about $15 almost thirty years ago: http://www.tolkienlibrary.com/dmiller/000467.htm

...and I said 2/3 above because I've managed to get FotR and RotK from the infamous Ace pirate pb edition, gotta get TTT sometime.

Interesting!

This is my personal favorite edition, as it's the very first copy I ever read. Granted, the one I own today I bought after the filmed trilogy came out, but it seems quite durable and solid.

The imitation red leather one (a real Red Book!) used to be my dream edition until the 50th anniversary. The one I'm using now is a hardcover with a black dustjacket that has the One Ring/Three Rings/Tengwar inscription design that Tolkien made in gold. It also has the pages from the Book of Mazarbul in a foldout after "A Journey In The Dark". Wish I could find a picture of it online.

But the set I've now got my eye on as an "heirloom" copy is the Deluxe Editions.

 

[Neroon]

WOW! That is sweet! But is that page saying it's sold out?

 

[S. Gomez]

^I think the copy they were offering got sold, but the main page of Tolkien.co.uk still has a link to buy--in the UK. But I think the deluxe editions have also been available seperately; I can still find The Children of Hurin at least on Amazon.ca.

 

[Stevil2001]

I'm not a huge fan of LotR (though my fiance is; her editions are some battered 1980s paperbacks), but... I like books. And interesting concepts for books. Which is why my desire "passes understanding"! The Eye of Sauron mark just looks cool.

I doubt I'd ever buy them, but it's a nice thought. I really like the idea of the story being "as intended". And maybe in six chunks I'd find the saga much more digestible! (There's no way in heck I'd ever pick up one of the omnibi.)

 

[Klaus]

The imitation red leather one (a real Red Book!) used to be my dream edition until the 50th anniversary.

Getting that one - my first hardcover edition -- when I was in 10th grade was one of the geek highlights of my life lol...