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lizziestudieshistory's review against another edition
3.0
I'm torn about this book, and as such it is a difficult one to rate and review. As a work laying out the development of The Fall of Gondolin as Tolkien saw the story (following the same pattern as Beren and Luthien), it is a triumph. CT's editing of the extant versions of the tale is meticulously done and well presented. We have the opportunity to read the 6 various versions (plus 2 renditions of Eärendel's story) laid out, as well as interesting discussions of how JRRT's idea of the story changed and developed throughout different periods in his life.
However, as a reader this was far from the most exciting or even enjoyable of reads. As a Tolkien fan, I loved seeing this story fleshed out further from the Silmarillion version, particularly around the Battle in Gondolin and the deeds of Tuor, Ecthelion, and Glorfindel. Yet, by the time we read the 5/6 rendition the story becomes repetitive and my excitement in the tale was over (even when I spaced out reading them over a couple of weeks!) This was only exacerbated by JRRT's failure to finish the whole narrative in 4 out of the 6 stories! By the end I felt fatigued and just wanted the book to be over - which is why I've taken my rating down from 4 stars to 3...
The story of the Fall of Gondolin would have favoured CT editing the extant versions of the story into on narrative - as happened in The Children of Hurin. It would have twisted our view of the different versions, however, it would make this fascinating story much more alive for the reader. CT could have included a detailed discussion of the different narratives at the end of the book or as an introduction, to allow for the discussion of the development of the tale without exhausting his readers.
Personally, I don't think I'll ever reread the entire book again, however, I will be more than willing to revisit 'The Original Tale' and 'Quenta Noldorinwa' versions as the two complete renditions of the Fall. I absolutely loved 'The Original Tale' and would highly recommend it as a short story to accompany reading The Silmarillion.
I'm slightly disappointed I didn't love this book, but I am incredibly glad I have finally read it! The Fall of Gondolin is my favourite of the Silmarillion tales and I really appreciated seeing a more complete vision of what a finished version might have been like, had Tolkien ever written a definitive story. I would have loved to see a book more in line with The Children of Hurin than Beren and Luthien, but the existence of this book alone is a small miracle so long after JRRT's death...
I also should mention Alan Lee's beautiful illustrations for this book, I think he's outdone himself with the astounding beauty and majesty he's given to Gondolin, as well as capturing some of them most devastating scenes in the book (Glofindel vs the Balrog springs to mind, p.104)
However, as a reader this was far from the most exciting or even enjoyable of reads. As a Tolkien fan, I loved seeing this story fleshed out further from the Silmarillion version, particularly around the Battle in Gondolin and the deeds of Tuor, Ecthelion, and Glorfindel. Yet, by the time we read the 5/6 rendition the story becomes repetitive and my excitement in the tale was over (even when I spaced out reading them over a couple of weeks!) This was only exacerbated by JRRT's failure to finish the whole narrative in 4 out of the 6 stories! By the end I felt fatigued and just wanted the book to be over - which is why I've taken my rating down from 4 stars to 3...
The story of the Fall of Gondolin would have favoured CT editing the extant versions of the story into on narrative - as happened in The Children of Hurin. It would have twisted our view of the different versions, however, it would make this fascinating story much more alive for the reader. CT could have included a detailed discussion of the different narratives at the end of the book or as an introduction, to allow for the discussion of the development of the tale without exhausting his readers.
Personally, I don't think I'll ever reread the entire book again, however, I will be more than willing to revisit 'The Original Tale' and 'Quenta Noldorinwa' versions as the two complete renditions of the Fall. I absolutely loved 'The Original Tale' and would highly recommend it as a short story to accompany reading The Silmarillion.
I'm slightly disappointed I didn't love this book, but I am incredibly glad I have finally read it! The Fall of Gondolin is my favourite of the Silmarillion tales and I really appreciated seeing a more complete vision of what a finished version might have been like, had Tolkien ever written a definitive story. I would have loved to see a book more in line with The Children of Hurin than Beren and Luthien, but the existence of this book alone is a small miracle so long after JRRT's death...
I also should mention Alan Lee's beautiful illustrations for this book, I think he's outdone himself with the astounding beauty and majesty he's given to Gondolin, as well as capturing some of them most devastating scenes in the book (Glofindel vs the Balrog springs to mind, p.104)
the_at_man's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
informative
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
3.5
---------------------------
Read over 49 Days
---------------------------
Style....................................0.75
Pacing...............................0.5
Enjoyment......................0.75
Memorability................0.5
Recommendability..0.5
Plot.......................................0.5
Characters.....................0.75
Setting...............................1
Originality........................1
Resolution........................1
Clarity................................NA
Focus..................................NA
Objectivity/Bias..........NA
Sources.............................NA
My Agreement.............NA
---------------------------
10/10 Score: 7.00
5/5 Score: 3.50
Gut rating: 3.50
Read over 49 Days
---------------------------
Style....................................0.75
Pacing...............................0.5
Enjoyment......................0.75
Memorability................0.5
Recommendability..0.5
Plot.......................................0.5
Characters.....................0.75
Setting...............................1
Originality........................1
Resolution........................1
Clarity................................NA
Focus..................................NA
Objectivity/Bias..........NA
Sources.............................NA
My Agreement.............NA
---------------------------
10/10 Score: 7.00
5/5 Score: 3.50
Gut rating: 3.50
doomaster's review against another edition
adventurous
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
3.0
ebtorres23's review against another edition
Just busy during bar prep and couldn’t give sufficient focus to it!
mikejones1word's review against another edition
adventurous
informative
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
5.0
samuelephant's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.0
juliette_b's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
tcreedy's review against another edition
4.0
It’s a good story. But the packaging made it frustrating - it’s quite a short story snd so this edition is more like a critical edition, lovely to use but expensive! Glad to have read it and glad it was a gift.
lau3rie's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
informative
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
I really loved how the narration of the audio book was done, it helped bring the critical sections of the book to life, and the prose style really lends itself to being spoken rather than read, drawing as it does on oral epic traditions.
It's always a little disappointing to be reading a fragmentary tale knowing how good Tolkien's finished works could be, but it was also fascinating to learn about the evolution of the tale over time.
The story itself is beautiful and harrowing, and I found myself wondering if it could only have been written by someone with a very visceral experience of war.
Well worth checking out, particularly the audio version.
It's always a little disappointing to be reading a fragmentary tale knowing how good Tolkien's finished works could be, but it was also fascinating to learn about the evolution of the tale over time.
The story itself is beautiful and harrowing, and I found myself wondering if it could only have been written by someone with a very visceral experience of war.
Well worth checking out, particularly the audio version.
jala_aldous's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
I really enjoyed this, I thought Christopher Tolkien did a great job putting it together and giving context for each version of the story. Having read the Silmarillion I wasn't expecting to be suprised but I was completely wrong.
I always thought that the tragedy of the Fall of Gondolin was the tragedy of Beleriand and the First Age: the inevitable fall of kingdom after kingdom, city after city in the face of Morgoth's onslaught. So I was shocked that in the first version Gondolin's ruin was not inevitable at all. My understanding from the Quenta Silmarillion was that if Turgon had heeded Ulmo's warning, Gondolin's people would've been saved but the city was always a gonner. To read about how the city was entirely capable of defending itself and could've held against Morgoth had it not been for the treachery of Maeglin, was a gut punch. It makes you realise that there is a damn good reason Gondolin is considered the greatest city in the history of Middle Earth. This city that could only fall through betrayal.
I'm not sure what I was expecting from this book, given it's written more as a history than a novel but wow the battle was epic, like nothing I've ever read before. It really felt on a biblical scale. The imagery was amazing and felt truly apocalyptic- the image of *balrogs* riding *dragons*- absolutely terrifying!
I remember this from the Silm but it's brought home how the skill of these First Age warriors is leagues above the men and elves of the Third Age. Tuor and Ecthelion killing *nine* Balrogs between them is absolutely insane. First age warriors were built different.
I was shocked by the depth of Maeglin's betrayal in this version. He not only detailed the defenses to the enemy, he also sabotaged Turgon's counter attack and, most cruelly, revealed the location of Way of Escape so there would be no survivors. I've seen some sympathetic takes of Maeglin, however in this version he did everything he could to see the utter ruin of his city and the massacre of his people. I would place him above Fëanor when it comes to ranking the most vile elves in Middle Earth.
Loved Idril, I only wish their was more of her, she's such a great character. I think she is an interesting example of soft power. Sure she was no warrior, but without her there would have been no survivors. Also I love the description of her fighting "like a tigress" when it came to protecting her son.
Tuor is cool too, I enjoyed reading the extended tale of his journey and getting to know him better. I found his attitude when Voronwë warns him that they may be killed on entering Gondolin irrationally funny. My guy is like whelp, "death in the wild certain; and death at the Gate is yet in doubt". So blunt Tuor, man could not be more different from the elves with their flowery language and cryptic answers.
Ulmo proved again that he is the best Valar.
I found Turgon's bits quite a painful read. I really liked him in the Silm, the House of Fingolfin was always my favourite, so to see him blinded by pride and ignoring his daughter's council in place of fucking Maeglin was tough. He certainly isn't his best in this book. If we're being generous, at this point he's lost so many family members to horrible, violent deaths, Idril and Maeglin are all he has left. He's certainly in an unenviable position, but he's always been one of the more rational and measured of Finwë's grandchildren so it is quite disappointing.
The deaths of Rog, Ecthelion and Glorfindel were everything you'd hope for in a book like this, again that biblical scale. All tragic, but talk about going out in a blaze of glory. Rog's story was new to me and it really tugged at the heartstrings. I knew more about Glorfindel, of course, and Ecthelion but it was still quite something to read their ends in full. You can see why their stories become legend in Arda. I don't think anyone does valiant, epic, tragic deaths quite like Tolkien, particularly in the Silm, my god. Glorfindel in particular hurt my heart, just when they think they're safe 😢. That battle gave me chills and the description of the yellow flowers growing from his burial mound, symbolic of the House of the Goldenflower was a lovely detail.
There are so many small details I loved, like the idea of the Gondolindhrim speaking Sindarin with a Quenyan accent. Or the entrance to Gondolin being disguised as a dried up river bed. The description of the Seven Gates was absolutely beautiful. I thought the imagery of Maeglin on Turgon's right and Idril on the left like the devil and the angel on the shoulders of the king was very well done.
I also loved the little Fall of Gondolin- Children of Húrin crossover, with the cousins coming so close but not knowing the identity of the other. Not stopping to talk to Túrin has got to be the best decision Tuor ever made. Still, it would've been a fascinating conversation. These two characters are so fun to compare. It's wild that Morgoth sends orcs hunting for Túrin whilst having no clue Tuor even exists.
I found it very satisfying how the last section of the book links the three books- Children of Hurin, Beren and Lúthien, and Fall of Gondolin by closing with the deeds of their descendents, Earendil and Elwing. Elwing being the granddaughter of Beren and Lúthien, Tuor being the nephew of Húrin and Eärendil being the son of Tuor and Idril. Then by mentioning their sons, Elrond and Elros, you have both a connection to LOTR and the events of the Third Age, and to Numenor and the events of Second Age. All nicely linked. It never fails to amuse me that the entire epic drama of the First Age is essentially Galadriel and Elrond's extended family's feud with Morgoth but also with each other.
My only criticism if the book is C Tolkien's contrasting of the different versions near end felt slightly unnecessary when you've just read them. I can see why he did it for the sake of clarity but having picked out most of the changes and contradictions myself, wading through this bit took me ages and did put me in a bit of book slump. All in all I really enjoyed this book. Would sell a kidney to see this and the other stories from the Silm faithfully adapted to the big screen.
I always thought that the tragedy of the Fall of Gondolin was the tragedy of Beleriand and the First Age: the inevitable fall of kingdom after kingdom, city after city in the face of Morgoth's onslaught. So I was shocked that in the first version Gondolin's ruin was not inevitable at all. My understanding from the Quenta Silmarillion was that if Turgon had heeded Ulmo's warning, Gondolin's people would've been saved but the city was always a gonner. To read about how the city was entirely capable of defending itself and could've held against Morgoth had it not been for the treachery of Maeglin, was a gut punch. It makes you realise that there is a damn good reason Gondolin is considered the greatest city in the history of Middle Earth. This city that could only fall through betrayal.
I'm not sure what I was expecting from this book, given it's written more as a history than a novel but wow the battle was epic, like nothing I've ever read before. It really felt on a biblical scale. The imagery was amazing and felt truly apocalyptic- the image of *balrogs* riding *dragons*- absolutely terrifying!
I remember this from the Silm but it's brought home how the skill of these First Age warriors is leagues above the men and elves of the Third Age. Tuor and Ecthelion killing *nine* Balrogs between them is absolutely insane. First age warriors were built different.
I was shocked by the depth of Maeglin's betrayal in this version. He not only detailed the defenses to the enemy, he also sabotaged Turgon's counter attack and, most cruelly, revealed the location of Way of Escape so there would be no survivors. I've seen some sympathetic takes of Maeglin, however in this version he did everything he could to see the utter ruin of his city and the massacre of his people. I would place him above Fëanor when it comes to ranking the most vile elves in Middle Earth.
Loved Idril, I only wish their was more of her, she's such a great character. I think she is an interesting example of soft power. Sure she was no warrior, but without her there would have been no survivors. Also I love the description of her fighting "like a tigress" when it came to protecting her son.
Tuor is cool too, I enjoyed reading the extended tale of his journey and getting to know him better. I found his attitude when Voronwë warns him that they may be killed on entering Gondolin irrationally funny. My guy is like whelp, "death in the wild certain; and death at the Gate is yet in doubt". So blunt Tuor, man could not be more different from the elves with their flowery language and cryptic answers.
Ulmo proved again that he is the best Valar.
I found Turgon's bits quite a painful read. I really liked him in the Silm, the House of Fingolfin was always my favourite, so to see him blinded by pride and ignoring his daughter's council in place of fucking Maeglin was tough. He certainly isn't his best in this book. If we're being generous, at this point he's lost so many family members to horrible, violent deaths, Idril and Maeglin are all he has left. He's certainly in an unenviable position, but he's always been one of the more rational and measured of Finwë's grandchildren so it is quite disappointing.
The deaths of Rog, Ecthelion and Glorfindel were everything you'd hope for in a book like this, again that biblical scale. All tragic, but talk about going out in a blaze of glory. Rog's story was new to me and it really tugged at the heartstrings. I knew more about Glorfindel, of course, and Ecthelion but it was still quite something to read their ends in full. You can see why their stories become legend in Arda. I don't think anyone does valiant, epic, tragic deaths quite like Tolkien, particularly in the Silm, my god. Glorfindel in particular hurt my heart, just when they think they're safe 😢. That battle gave me chills and the description of the yellow flowers growing from his burial mound, symbolic of the House of the Goldenflower was a lovely detail.
There are so many small details I loved, like the idea of the Gondolindhrim speaking Sindarin with a Quenyan accent. Or the entrance to Gondolin being disguised as a dried up river bed. The description of the Seven Gates was absolutely beautiful. I thought the imagery of Maeglin on Turgon's right and Idril on the left like the devil and the angel on the shoulders of the king was very well done.
I also loved the little Fall of Gondolin- Children of Húrin crossover, with the cousins coming so close but not knowing the identity of the other. Not stopping to talk to Túrin has got to be the best decision Tuor ever made. Still, it would've been a fascinating conversation. These two characters are so fun to compare. It's wild that Morgoth sends orcs hunting for Túrin whilst having no clue Tuor even exists.
I found it very satisfying how the last section of the book links the three books- Children of Hurin, Beren and Lúthien, and Fall of Gondolin by closing with the deeds of their descendents, Earendil and Elwing. Elwing being the granddaughter of Beren and Lúthien, Tuor being the nephew of Húrin and Eärendil being the son of Tuor and Idril. Then by mentioning their sons, Elrond and Elros, you have both a connection to LOTR and the events of the Third Age, and to Numenor and the events of Second Age. All nicely linked. It never fails to amuse me that the entire epic drama of the First Age is essentially Galadriel and Elrond's extended family's feud with Morgoth but also with each other.
My only criticism if the book is C Tolkien's contrasting of the different versions near end felt slightly unnecessary when you've just read them. I can see why he did it for the sake of clarity but having picked out most of the changes and contradictions myself, wading through this bit took me ages and did put me in a bit of book slump. All in all I really enjoyed this book. Would sell a kidney to see this and the other stories from the Silm faithfully adapted to the big screen.