Tolkien in the twenty-first century The meaning of Middle-Earth today

University of Macau English professor Groom (The Vampire) delivers a loving ode to J.R.R. Tolkien's Lord of the Rings series. Groom contends that one of the greatest apparent shortcomings of Tolkien's work--the worlds he builds are full of "loose ends... ambiguities, contradictions, undeveloped details" that don't add up--is also its greatest strength: "Tolkien has a capacity to describe different understandings simultaneously without insisting on the ultimate primacy of one version of events." For example, The Hobbit's "completely straightforward account" of how Bilbo Baggins acquired the One Ring is revealed in The Lord of the Rings to be false. Elsewhere, Groom argues that Tolkien's fiction serves as a "panoramic celebration" of English literature, as when Bilbo wakes the dragon Smaug while stealing a gold cup, echoing a similar dragon scene in Beowulf. Groom also surveys the various adaptations of the books, suggesting that while many succeed on their own merits (he lauds Andy Serkis's performance as Gollum in Peter Jackson's films), they all streamline the unruliness of Tolkien's originals. The enthusiastic meditations on the power of Tolkien's oeuvre will please Lord of the Rings aficionados, though Groom's assumption that readers will bring a high degree of familiarity with even bit players from the original books may leave casual fans in the cold. Still, it's an adventure worth taking. (Sept.)

British "Prof of Goth" Groom (English literature, Univ. of Macau; The Vampire: A New History) offers a contemporary look at J.R.R. Tolkien's works and their impact on multimedia, popular culture, and recent literary history. Groom cites how films, radio dramas, and online games based on Tolkien's books have created the "Tolkien industry." The author analyzes the Tolkien phenomenon to explain its significance in the post-pandemic environment, with the goal of encouraging fans of the movies, TV series, and games to read Tolkien's novels as well. This study begins with an overview of Tolkien's upbringing and the political and social context of the creation and publication of The Hobbit. Groom also offers readers an understanding of how Middle-Earth influenced the music of the Beatles and more recent musical artists. The book includes extensive notes and citations. VERDICT Groom, who first read The Lord of the Rings when he was 13, provides a fresh study of the impact Tolkien has on contemporary readers' and viewers' understanding of good, evil, war, and conflict.--Joyce Sparrow

A modern journey through Tolkien's work, which has engendered a rich field of cultural activity. Tolkien devoted his life to the creation of the vast, imaginary world of Middle-Earth, and books such as The Hobbit and the Lord of the Rings series have been popular since they were first published. However, notes Groom, a professor of English literature, the story did not end there. Tolkien's novels have become the source code for films, music, games, spinoffs, and any number of imitators. In the first half of the book, Groom deals with how Tolkien created the books, drawing on a wide range of literary influences and personal experiences. He did not have a detailed plan for the Lord of the Rings but largely allowed the characters and the narrative to evolve within the Middle-Earth framework he had developed in earlier works. The combination of sweeping scope and personal journeys gives the books their resonance, but it also makes them challenging to understand. LOTR is much more than a story of good versus evil, and the author peels back the layers to prove his point. The second half of the book examines the numerous attempts of filmmakers to come to terms with the sprawling text; for most, it was simply too difficult. Groom applauds Peter Jackson's films, accepting that parts of Tolkien's stories had to be cut or amended to suit the screen. He ponders the reasons for the films' huge success, arguing that many of the crises of our times are reflected in Tolkien's books. He is on less firm ground here, and sometimes he struggles to make connections. But his point that Tolkien's work will continue to have an enduring appeal is valid, and this book offers a thought-provoking examination as to why. With the authority of extensive research, Groom unpacks the reasons for the appeal of Tolkien to a new generation. Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.