There is much to love in Tolkein, and also a lot that is seriously annoying. But the thing I always hated most about this story, and which is even worse in the book than in the movie versions, is how Frodo makes it all the way to the Crack of Doom only to fail in his resolve to destroy the ring, which is only accomplished by Gollum biting off his finger and then accidentally falling in with it. In the crucial moment, the story is ultimately about original sin and redemption by some ineffable "higher" power. This seriously undercuts the story's drama and heroism. ( )

This book on tape version includes songs sung a cappella with melodies by the narrator, Rob Inglis, and Recorded Books studio director, Claudia Howard. The final cassette has Tolkien's preface to the trilogy with some prior history of Middle Earth. ( )

This review is for the Recorded Books audiobook version of The Return of the King, read by Rob Inglis.

In this last installment in the story of the War of the Ring, Tolkien brings together all his storylines for a thrilling finish. All the members of the Fellowship are strategically placed like pieces on a chessboard, awaiting the final outcome of their plans. Gandalf assumes command of Minas Tirith in its siege. Merry offers his service to the king of Rohan. Pippin becomes an esquire of Gondor. Aragorn, Gimli, and Legolas take the Paths of the Dead. And somewhere in the wasteland, Sam and Frodo struggle on toward Mount Doom, almost losing themselves on the journey.

What can I say about Tolkien's genius that other reviewers have not? The scope of his imagination, from its vastness to its tiny details, astounds me every time. This was an especially enjoyable reread, as I listened to it on audiobook. I should like to meet Rob Inglis. You can tell he has a deep love for the story he is telling. He gets it, and it's lovely to walk through Middle-earth in company with a narrator who really understands its atmosphere. Sometimes he phrases things differently than I would have, but I almost always like his pronunciations and emphases better than my own. The music he wrote for the many songs in the book is passable; some are certainly better than others. I think he was quite brave to even make the attempt.

Some readers object to the Scouring of the Shire at the end, saying that it is anticlimactic. Peter Jackson cut that entire sequence out of his film version, and there are admittedly some valid reasons for doing that. But as a purist, I love all the story, and find that the invasion of the Shire is both humorous and terribly sad. And Tolkien is making an important point: the hobbits must put into practice at home all the lessons they learned on their journeys. Gandalf tells them they are more than capable of setting things right in the Shire, for "this is what you have been trained for." Merry especially shines in the resulting action, mobilizing the Shire's forces and setting up a successful battle plan.

There is a tension between pacifism and war that Tolkien brings sharply into focus through the differing convictions of Frodo and Merry. Frodo does not wish for any fighting in the Shire and refuses to fight in the battle, but Merry is more realistic, arguing that the Shire won't be saved by them standing around looking "shocked and sad." Nor will the marauders be reasoned with. Sometimes negotiation is not possible. Everything that is precious can be destroyed, even the beautiful Shire, unless it is decisively defended, sometimes by force. Tolkien, who fought in World War I and lived through World War II, certainly had some justification for this view... and yet Frodo's position is a nod of respect toward those who conscientiously object to war even when it is necessary.

There are plenty of battles in this volume, from the vast siege of Minas Tirith to the primitive struggle between Frodo and Gollum at the edge of the chasm, but it is not all action. Tolkien does a brilliant job with the characters' relationships, most notably the Sam/Frodo/Gollum and Aragorn/Éowyn/Faramir triangles. Sam and Éowyn stand out to me especially. Sam's dogged determination and humble loyalty make him heroic right alongside his master and the other more traditional heroes. And Éowyn's development is so beautifully handled; Tolkien, speaking through Gandalf, notes her courageous spirit and how it was hemmed in by her gender. Éowyn — with the help of another marginalized character, Merry — does one of the greatest deeds of the war, something that "no living man" could do. Sam and Éowyn exemplify Tolkien's fascination with the unlikely hero.

This is the longest it's ever taken me to read The Lord of the Rings, because it was all on audiobook. I started near the end of September and have just now finished. I've enjoyed the leisurely pace of this reread/listen. It is no wonder that this book, often scorned by those Tom Shippey calls "the literati," has had such an incredible impact on its genre. It has set the standard by which all other fantasy works are judged.

Thank you, J. R. R. Tolkien. ( )