The Hobbit

J.R.R. Tolkien

Feb 2012 · The Lord Of The Rings Book 1 · Sold by HarperCollins

About this ebook

J.R.R. Tolkien's classic prelude to his Lord of the Rings trilogy...

Bilbo Baggins is a hobbit who enjoys a comfortable, unambitious life, rarely traveling any farther than his pantry or cellar. But his contentment is disturbed when the wizard Gandalf and a company of dwarves arrive on his doorstep one day to whisk him away on an adventure. They have launched a plot to raid the treasure hoard guarded by Smaug the Magnificent, a large and very dangerous dragon. Bilbo reluctantly joins their quest, unaware that on his journey to the Lonely Mountain he will encounter both a magic ring and a frightening creature known as Gollum.

Written for J.R.R. Tolkien's own children, The Hobbit has sold many millions of copies worldwide and established itself as a modern classic.

Ratings and reviews

It may be a long book, but it is enjoyable in the end. Bilbo Baggins, a hobbit, comes across a wizard named Gandalf and dwarves: Oin, Gloiin, Dwalin, Balin, Kili, Fili, Dori, Nori, Ori, Bifur, Bofur, Bombur, and Thorin Oakenshield, the leader. They journey to Lonely Mountain, a once dwarf paradise, now owned by vile dragon, Smaug. Many pages later, Bilbo finds the One Ring in Gollum's cave. He tricks Gollum into letting him leave. Using the ring's invisibility, he outruns Gollum. Gandalf tells the dwarves and Bilbo that he is leaving, putting Bilbo in charge. They walk into a forest where Shelobs live. They attempt to eat the dwarves until Bilbo kills them with his sword, Sting. Wood Elves later hold the dwarves captive. Later on, they make it to Lonely Mountain. Bilbo talks to Smaug with the ring on. Smaug later breathes fire to try to kill Bilbo. Once Bilbo's out, Saug exits the mountain to seek his revenge. The Battle of Three Armies took place when dwarves, men, and wood elves fight to see who gets the gold. Later, they join forces to kill the goblins (orcs). Sooner or later, Bilbo's back in the Shire. -Rondrick

It kept me company on my long days away from home. I would give it five stars save for my own bias. I do like fantasy and the book series as a whole but it was missing that little something that I look for in more quick paced fantasy books. Still, the author put a great admirable amount of effort into this book and the sequels, I think most would enjoy it greatly.

A classic; as a teen in the mid 80's who did a fair amount of D&D and subsequent MUD playing on computers this fantasy, science fiction series is a must read and re-read. The connection to music by artists such as Led Zeppelin and Rush ties entertainments from multiple formats and it's easier to get into the story when you have some form of relating to it. Still, even after all these years I have a hard time keeping track of all the character names; I often confuse the "heroes" with the "villains".

About the author

J.R.R. Tolkien (1892–1973) was a distinguished academic, though he is best known for writing The Hobbit, The Lord of the Rings, and The Silmarillion, plus other stories and essays. His books have been translated into over sixty languages and have sold many millions of copies worldwide.