J. E. A. Tyler (1943–2006)

If you've ever read Tolkien, and yet don't consider yourself the Middle Earth version of a "trekkie," then like me, you've probably had difficulty telling Boromir from Faramir, or Balin from Dwalin. And where exactly is Rhovanton? Where the heck did the elves go after the war? How did Smeagol become that disgusting little freak Gollum?
If you have ever had issues keeping any of this information together in your head while reading Tolkien, I highly advise keeping the Tolkien Companion nearby show more whenever you find yourself immersed in the Middle Earth books. show less

Written as an encyclopedia of everything in Middle Earth, we read this cover to cover (probably not the intended method). This way, we were repeatedly given the various important stories in the Tolkien world until we knew them thoroughly. More maps would have helped sort out what was what.

Though it appeared shortly before publication of The Silmarillion, and so was inevitably superseded, this book deserves recognition as the first serious attempt to catalogue Tolkien's world. It is thorough and readable, and although occasionally inaccurate (e.g. in the genealogies of the Eldar and Edain), it avoids speculation and invention, and was, in its day, a very useful handbook to The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings. The decorated capital letters at the head of each section are show more beautifully drawn. MB 19-viii-2009 show less

Carr and Tyler trace The Beatles career from 1962 to 1975 as a series of record reviews of Beatles records (singles, EPs and albums) released in the UK.
Written in the biting style of British rock journalism the authors seem prejudiced against George Harrison's music for a start but this is an interesting introduction to Beatles music for those who may be unfamiliar with it (i.e. Martians).
Updated in 1978 and again in 1981.