The Children of Hurin

Hi all,

When I heard there was a new J.R.R. Tolkien book due this year I knew that I had to have it. I'm something of a Tolkien obsessesive having read not only the usual Hobbit, Lord of the Rings and Silmarillion, but also the lesser works such as Book of Lost Tales and at least half of the 12-volume History of Middle Earth books that are nothing more than early drafts of his other stories.

I was curious whether this book would be something for completists like myself or whether it would appeal to the more casual Tolkien fan. After reading it, I think it will.

The story of the family of Hurin is told in the Silmarillion and mentioned in the Lord of the Rings. It's very much a tragedy and I wouldn't call this book a feel-good story. The book tells the tale of Hurin's children - son Turin and daughter Nienor. A second daughter dies of a disease in the first chapter which pretty much sets the tone of the disasters to come.

The story is set in the first age when men were allied with the elves in their battles against Morgroth and his orcish hordes. Hurin is captured by Morgoth and Turin sets out to find him, leaving his mother and sister behind. The bulk of the book follows the brooding hero as he trudges around the wilds and has various adventures, all with gloomy outcomes.

His sister is absent from much of the story, but returns in the final chapters so that she can contribute to the family's tragic history. Let's just say the book ends poorly for everybody. Shakespeare couldn't have written a more tragic plot.

While it's the book is not nearly as rich as the Lord of the Rings, it's not as impenetrable as the Silmarillion. It lies somewhere it between. The story has a clear plot. There are characters with clear motivations that have defined adventures and there is even some dialogue, stilted and old-fashioned as only Tolkien can create.

When the paperback edition comes out in a year or so there are bound to be a ton of remaindered hardcovers as I'm sure the publishers and bookstores have overestimated the demand for Tolkien books by thinking everyone who loved the movies will love the book. If you would like to return to Middle Earth one more time then I'd recommend picking up a copy and giving this book a try.

I wouldn't be surprised to see it turned in to a movie some day.

Capt. Xerox