The Lord of the Rings

The Lord of the Rings - The Book

The Lord of the Rings is a fantasy trilogy written by J. R. R. Tolkien which serves as the basis for The Lord of the Rings Online. The series is composed of three books: The Fellowship of the Ring, The Two Towers, and The Return of the King. The trilogy is ostensibly a sequel to Tolkien's novel The Hobbit and uses thematic elements and backstory from Tolkien's earlier works such as The Silmarillion.

The Lord of the Rings tells the story of the Hobbit Ring-bearer Frodo Baggins and his quest to destroy the Ring of Power in the fires of Mount Doom before it falls into the hands of the Dark Lord Sauron. The series also relates the adventures of Frodo's companions, the Fellowship of the Ring, and tells of the War of the Ring fought by the Free Peoples of Middle-earth against the forces of Sauron and his kingdom of Mordor. This conflict is destined to end the Third Age of Middle-earth and lead to the dwindling of all magical folk, such as Elves and Dwarves, and result in the later dominion of Men.

This page is about the Book written by J.R.R. Tolkien. For the companions of the ring-bearer Frodo Baggins, see Company of the Ring. 

The Fellowship of the Ring

The Fellowship of the Ring is the first book of J. R. R. Tolkien's fantasy trilogy, The Lord of the Rings. It tells of how the Hobbit Frodo Baggins came to bear the Ring of Power, sought by the Dark Lord Sauron, and of the companions who accompanied him on his journey towards Mordor to destroy the Ring.

In Lotro, Volumes One, Two, and Three of the Epic Quest line deal with events in this first book. (Book 5 of Lotro Volume Three coincides with the last chapter of The Fellowship of the Ring, "The Breaking of the Fellowship".)

The Two Towers

The Two Towers is the second book of J. R. R. Tolkien's fantasy trilogy, The Lord of the Rings.

The fellowship divides at the lawn of Parth Galen south of the Argonath, on the south-western side of the lake of Nen Hithoel, below Amon Hen, with Frodo and Samwise Gamgee heading alone for Mordor, while the rest of the fellowship scours Rohan searching for the two captured Hobbits, Peregrin Took, and Meriadoc Brandybuck, ultimately battling Saruman's Army at the Battle of the Hornburg at Helm's Deep.

In LOTRO, Volume Three of the Epic Quest line deals with events in this second book.

The Return of the King

The Return of the King is the third book of J. R. R. Tolkien's fantasy trilogy, The Lord of the Rings.

While King Théoden of Rohan rides to the Aid of Gondor, Aragorn follows his destiny to the Paths of the Dead and ultimately to the Battle of the Pelennor Fields.

In LOTRO, Volume Four of the Epic Quest line deals with events in this the Third book.

The Lord of the Rings - Sauron

Within the world of Middle-earth, the phrase "Lord of the Rings" is a title given to Sauron himself. As creator and master of the One Ring, Sauron holds influence over the other Rings of Power. He corrupted the Nine Rings of Men, transforming their bearers into the Nazgûl or "Ring-wraiths." The Seven Rings of the Dwarves were mostly lost to Dragon fire, claimed by Sauron, or hidden in the underground Dwarf kingdoms. Only the Three Rings of the Elves remained untouched but even their power could be overtaken and controlled by the One Ring if Sauron reclaimed it.

At the conclusion of his adventures, Frodo Baggins writes a memoir called The Downfall of the Lord of the Rings. This was preserved in the Red Book of Westmarch along with There and Back Again, the memoirs of Frodo's cousin Bilbo Baggins. In later ages, these works are said to be the basis for the "translations" of The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit.