Unfinished Tales by J. R. R. Tolkien - Read by Timothy and Samuel West (2021)
First published in 1980, Unfinished Tales is a collection of stories by J. R. R. Tolkien, that spans from the Elder Days of Middle-earth to the end of the War of the Ring. For those who have read both The Silmarillion and The Lord of the Rings, this book provides additional insights and more detailed accounts of many key events of the First, Second and Third age. Such as Gandalf’s informative tale of how he came to send the Dwarves to Bag-End in search of a burglar, the appearance of the sea deity Ulmo before Tuor on the coast of Beleriand and an in depth description of the military organization of the Riders of Rohan. This collection of stories and essays by J. R. R. Tolkien were never fully completed during the author’s lifetime but were posthumously edited by his son Christopher Tolkien and present with notes, annotations and were required a detailed commentary.
First published in 1980, Unfinished Tales is a collection of stories by J. R. R. Tolkien, that spans from the Elder Days of Middle-earth to the end of the War of the Ring. For those who have read both The Silmarillion and The Lord of the Rings, this book provides additional insights and more detailed accounts of many key events of the First, Second and Third age. Such as Gandalf’s informative tale of how he came to send the Dwarves to Bag-End in search of a burglar, the appearance of the sea deity Ulmo before Tuor on the coast of Beleriand and an in depth description of the military organization of the Riders of Rohan. This collection of stories and essays by J. R. R. Tolkien were never fully completed during the author’s lifetime but were posthumously edited by his son Christopher Tolkien and present with notes, annotations and were required a detailed commentary.
Unfinished Tales also contains the only stories about the island of Numenor before its downfall, and all that is known about the Five Wizards that made up the Istari. Christopher Tolkien’s notes are invaluable, highlighting any deviations in lore with other books in the Tolkien Legendarium. They also help the reader to grasp the evolution of many of the tales and subject matter and provide a sense of context within the rest of his Father’s writings. The commercial success of Unfinished Tales demonstrated that there was still a strong demand for Tolkien's work after his death and that readers would avidly consume any material that provided further insight into the history of Middle-earth. Encouraged by the result, Christopher Tolkien embarked upon the more ambitious twelve-volume work entitled The History of Middle-earth which encompasses nearly the entire body of his Father's writings about Middle-earth.
This May HarperCollins released a new unabridged audio recording of this seminal text featuring the combined vocal talents of Father and Son, Timothy West CBE and Samuel West. The production is exemplary and the quality of reading outstanding. Both Messr West Senior and Junior, being established actors, navigate the choppy waters of pronouncing names correctly with ease. I would go so far as to say that their combined flawless diction adds immensely to the proceedings. The central narrative is told by Samuel West and his Father Timothy reads Christopher Tolkien’s annotations and notes. Furthermore, they read at a measured pace allowing the listener to digest the narrative which at times can be quite complex. It is a far cry from previous unofficial audio versions which have been read in the most perfunctory fashion and without any degree of enthusiasm. Hence I wholeheartedly recommend this version of Unfinished Tales due to its accessibility and quality.
Last August I listened to The Battersea Poltergeist podcast by Danny Robins and was subsequently introduced to his other production Uncanny. Both are investigations into alleged supernatural events but unlike other shows of this kind, these are far better researched, produced and most importantly even handed. Danny makes a great deal of effort to try and keep a foot in each camp; team believer and team sceptic. Overall these podcast work as they genuinely appeal to multiple audiences and they are not excessively hyperbolic or credulous. A lot of this comes down to Danny’s personality which is upbeat and relatable. Perhaps his greatest strength is being a sympathetic ear to those recounting their experiences. He lightens the mood from time to time with humour when required. He also liberally litters the proceedings with pop culture references. However, he will probe and ask pointed questions but does so in a non-accusatory manner.