Review of the New Tolkien Lore Book - The Fall of Númenor by Brian Sibley - Review & Thoughts

[@ThePhilosophersGames]

Ok here is my review of The Fall of Númenor book by Biran Sibley. I hope you like the review. I bought the English physical and digital version of it. And now I also linked the affilaite links in the description. Let me know if you are interested in the book or if you have it already, if you like it so far. Big thanks to the artists (links in teh description): Kimberly80 Ted Nasmith Sara Morello Art Pete Amachree and all the others Also ofc Alan Lee as part of the book itself.

[@christianefiorito3204]

I got my copy yesterday. I love it. The art is absolutely fantastic. I am happy we have Tolkiens words about the second age finally.

[@ThePhilosophersGames]

haha agreed, I also think it might be a really interesting book for a lot of people.

[@arthurwkayalle6213]

Which illustration was your favorite?

[@ecthelionofthefountain8267]

I'm very much looking forward to reading this book. First of all, I'd like to say Alan Lee's illustrations are absolutely exquisite. Annatar looks as he should look!

[@arthurwkayalle6213]

Indeed, but i miss his other illustrations, he does some fantastic illustrations that are inside imladris, like that one from isildur againts sauron, and the ones from tolkien's ring, by david day, they could have been included😐

[@Wind_Falcon]

Excellent video Chris. Glad to see you talk about the books again. I'm sure you talk about them a lot in the Rings of Power videos as well, but I have successfully excised everything regarding that show from my life, so apologies for not watching those despite me enjoying your content so much, and for so many years now. Thanks for all the work you do.

[@ThePhilosophersGames]

Thank you ^^ Glad you (and I hope others as well) are back.

[@istari0]

I'm just waiting for my copy to arrive. I may not like every choice Sibley made but a coherent tale of the 2nd Age in one book is something I have been anticipating ever since this book was announced.

[@aresaurelian]

I have ordered my copy of the book. It looks amazing. Good review Chris, thank you for your thoughts.🙂

[@ThePhilosophersGames]

Thank you!

[@MisterLambda]

I was about to purchase it online before you gave the advice of looking at local book stores, I shall certainly do that! Thanks again for your thoughts and presentation.

[@alonsogabriel9336]

Yep, all my doubts about the book, it being similar or maybe exactly like Beren and Luthien (a non linear work and more of a story of how the story was made than the story itself expanded, a documentary of sorts) are gone. My pre order was worth it, thank god I didnt cancel it. Thanks for laying this vid out here, really helped clarify some stuff. All in all, Fall of Numenor seems to be best for those whom have read or have the silmarillion and the hobbit and lotr books and dont have the other books that tackle the 2nd age.

[@arthurwkayalle6213]

The fall of númenor is similar to the children of hurin, it's a linear story, but It dosen't add much as the children of hurin. Fantastic book nonetheless

[@KingGayCockroach]

As always an absolutely excellent video

[@ThePhilosophersGames]

Thank you ^^

[@margaridasousa4093]

Hi, nice review and channel. I stumbled upon it a couple of weeks ago as I am revisiting Tolkien books. This time I started by the Silmarillion (the last illustrated edition). I read LOTR for the first time 25 years ago and I am very glad that we have access to so much of Tolkien's universe now. Really like your books' reviews and lore videos. Thank you!

[@otaku-sempai2197]

I haven't received my copy yet (pre-ordered through Barnes & Noble). From what I've heard from other sites, Sibley also retains the confusing and contradictory idea that the Elf-king Amroth is a son of Galadriel and Celeborn, a notion that I would have thought to be reduced to a footnote.

[@ThePhilosophersGames]

agreed (I mentioned it in teh video as well). Really an unusual choice, but I guess it's hard to make sense out of it only using Tolkien's text without having to fill some gaps yourself or simply not mentioning what happened in Lórien in the meantime.

[@robertherring9277]

Thanks man! Wish I could have read over Thanksgiving break, but will over winter break! Perks of being a teacher!

[@terrystewart1973]

This is a great addition to my Tolkien library. Hope someone does something similar for the First and Third Ages one day.

[@ArwenAreYouOK]

You should do a video on the concept of ‘the flame imperishable’ If the Ring makes any bearer ‘a servant’ or a extension of Sauron bound by his will while losing their own (example: the nine are bound in this subservient manner) is the 🔥 supposed to be consciousness of people & Gandalf for instance a being that is guarding this ability of making choices that enables sub-creations like The Shire; a place with a culture as much as any elf-realm like Rivendel. Gandalf does assert to the Balrog that he is a protector of ‘the secret fire’ - as in protecting against the zombification that Sauron desires…lol yea confirmed I have a helluva bag of hash. I am not even sure if any of this makes any sense.

[@ThePhilosophersGames]

😅

[@JamesMC04]

It’s shorter than I thought it would be, at just under 300 pages (including the index). But I am glad I got it.

[@TheDarkWizard666]

Truly a work of art, fantastic book!

[@mathuasher9184]

Positive comment

[@ThePhilosophersGames]

thank you for your positivity 😄

[@MrEscobar.]

So, its a summary of important events from Those books?

[@ThePhilosophersGames]

Yes kind of though it includes the actual texts. But it's a selection that tries to form a narrative and leaves out some contradicting texts, because those texts Tolkien was still working on and wrote 4-5 versions of them, but he never brought them to a state where they could be published, so there is a bit of interpretation in it.

[@Aurora2097]

So it is all texts i already have read.Thought so.But i am curious for the german translation as i believe most ao far have only been available in english...

[@ThePhilosophersGames]

Yes, there are some texts it, that have not been translated so far (e.g. from Peoples of Middle-earth).

[@Aurora2097]

A bit sad there wasn't more katerial from the notion club papers, the lost road and the early 2nd age outline.Tal-Elmar would have been fun too...

[@imacarrot6570]

As long as this book is just a sort of compilation of already published material by a Tolkien then that is not bad. Without specifically Christopher to go through the material .. .. THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS AN UNPUBLISHED WORK OF TOLKIEN ANYMORE!! No one else is to be trusted. Ever. Period. Anything else is simply Melkor's song polluting Eru's creation.