Review of 'The Fall of Númenor'

J.R.R. Tolkien’s writings on the Second Age of Middle-earth, collected for the first time in one volume complete with new illustrations in watercolor and pencil by renowned artist Alan Lee.

J.R.R. Tolkien famously described the Second Age of Middle-earth as a "dark age, and not very much of its history is (or need be) told." And for many years readers would need to be content with the tantalizing glimpses of it found within the pages of The Lord of the Rings and its appendices, including the forging of the Rings of Power, the building of the Barad-dûr and the rise of Sauron.

It was not until Christopher Tolkien published The Silmarillion after his father’s death that a fuller story could be told. Although much of the book’s content concerned the First Age of Middle-earth, there were at its close two key works that revealed the tumultuous events concerning the rise and fall of the island of Númenor. Raised out of the Great Sea and gifted to the Men of Middle-earth as a reward for aiding the angelic Valar and the Elves in the defeat and capture of the Dark Lord Morgoth, the kingdom became a seat of influence and wealth; but as the Númenóreans’ power increased, the seed of their downfall would inevitably be sown, culminating in the Last Alliance of Elves and Men.

Even greater insight into the Second Age would be revealed in subsequent publications, first in Unfinished Tales of Númenor and Middle-earth, then expanded upon in Christopher Tolkien’s magisterial twelve-volume The History of Middle-earth, in which he presented and discussed a wealth of further tales written by his father, many in draft form.

Now, adhering to the timeline of "The Tale of Years" in the appendices to The Lord of the Rings, editor Brian Sibley has assembled into one comprehensive volume a new chronicle of the Second Age of Middle-earth, told substantially in the words of Tolkien from the various published texts, with new illustrations in watercolor and pencil by the doyen of Tolkien art, Alan Lee.

Review

Part fiction, part notes, all history, Tolkien’s legacy lives on through his notes, his son, and Brian Sibley.

Fictional History

Here’s a little something about me: I’m not into history. I know history because it’s essential to know and learn from it. You know the saying, “Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.” But it is a topic that, for the most part, bores me.

But fictional history? I love that stuff. Learning more about this universe is a beautiful experience reverberating through this narrative.

There is storytelling in the novel, and the story was put together from the notes of J.R.R. Tolkien. You see his thought process pulled together through his son’s contributions and Sibley’s work. While focusing on Númenor, we see this kingdom’s impact on Middle Earth. Long-lived, these humans were descendants of Elrond’s brother, who chose a mortal life.

Then there is the creation of the rings of power and the rise of Sauron. Then, finally, we see his role in the fall of Númenor and the creation of the rings of power.

Seeing all these bits of history that Lord of the Rings fans already knows of tied together was brilliant.

However, because it is a history, the story is slow. This is not a book that can be skimmed. It is a history with fiction and non-fiction parts pulled together, so the reading goes slow. It is not just focused on storytelling but also on the notes created by Tolkien himself. So, again, while interesting, it does make for a slow read.

Final Thoughts

The Fall of Númenor is the perfect read for any Lord of the Rings fans. It captures the essence of Tolkien’s work, building off of his notes and completed with beautiful artwork that brings the story to life.

• Writing Quality : 10/10
• Character Development : 10/10
• "Couldn't Put It Down"-ness : 10/10
• Intellectual Depth: 10/10
• Originality: 10/10
• Overall Rating: 5 out of 5.

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About the Author

Cynthia Bujnicki graduated from Emerson College with a BA in Writing, Literature and Publishing. She has always loved to read since she was a child. A contributing writer for YA Fantasy Addicts, she is also the Editor-in-Chief for Cyn's Workshop. She lives in sunny South Florida with her husband, son and daughter and their two cats.