Guide to Tolkien's World: A Bestiary

This book is a VERY informative and useful guide to Middle-Earth and everything inhabiting it, from the Silvan elves to plants and flowers! It’s filled with all the details of Tolkien’s marvelous world. Every person who loves Tolkien’s world will love this book too!!!!

This book was gifted to my wife for Christmas, but I quickly coveted it for myself when I saw it. Upon getting my hands on it and cracking the front cover . . . I couldn't put it down! LOTR fever has died down now that all three films have been released, and this book is the perfect solution for those in need of another Tolkien fix. It is particularly good for those who may be daunted by the task of reading the multiple volume Histories, but still wish to learn more about Middle-Earth. It is always fun to see other artists interpretations of Tolkien's work, and this book is filled to bursting with many b & w and color illustrations by various artists. Highly recommended!

This book is a must for Tolkien fans because of its utter comprehensiveness! Anything you need to know is in here and it is very user friendly.

In the Dark Ages, bestiaries were volumes (often illustrated) were written as allegorical or moralizing works on the appearance and traits of real or imaginary animals. They were often thick and lavishly illustrated, and their text described in detail such mythical creatures as griffins, gargoyles, giants, and dog-headed men.David Day's Guide to Tolkien's World: A Bestiary (also published as A Tolkien Bestiary) is a beautifully written and illustrated bestiary, containing entries on the 129 different races that inhabited Middle-Earth. Fauna and flora, ranging from the Athelas (kingsfoil) plant to the awesome Warg are vividly described, and all of Tolkien's major works (The Hobbit, The Lord of the Rings, and The Silmarillion) are covered. The black and white drawings depict the various races (Elves, Men, Orcs, Istari, Vala, Maia...) and the color plates depict major events from the Creation of the World to the Ringbearers' departure to the West.A must have for Tolkien fans.Alex Diaz-Granados

David Day has created a scholarly work, a worthy companion to Tolkien's novels. While it shouldn't be considered as authoritative a source of reference information as The Silmarillion, the indexes of The Return of the King, or any of Christopher Tolkien's compilations, it is none the less useful and infinitely more practical for the quick reference of facts. That's not to say that it is in any way dry or prosaic in terms of entertainment value, or of interest only to those initiated in the world of Middle Earth; the vivid illustrations and lively, informative text will make this a treasured possession of any lover of the imaginative.

The Tolkien Beastiary is a lavishly illustrated book which plunges deeply into the wonderful world dreamed up by J.R.R. Tolkien. David Day's use of colorful illustrations mixed with facinating, well written history makes this book not just informative, but a fantastic addition to The Guide To Middle Earth. It will provide hours of reading pleasure. I would recommend this handsome oversized "coffee table book" to any and all fans of Middle Earth.