J.R.R. Tolkien's fictional universe, Middle-earth, has indisputably become an inspiration to many; including readers, scholars,
and even other authors. Since then the fantasy genre has gained vast recognition, adaptations were produced and the realm has become a highly-sought subject for researchers around the world. All came from four remarkable works: The Silmarillion, The Adventure of Tom Bombadil, The Hobbit, and The Lord of the Rings. David Day is one author who deems it is necessary to celebrate the brilliance of the Middle-earth. In Characters from Tolkien he arranges a captivating study on all the creatures: flora and fauna, the spirit and the mortals. It is an A-Z guide to Middle-earth and The Undying Lands from the creation of the world to the fourth age of sun. If imagination is not enough, it is also supported with illustrations, a map, chronologies of all the ages, and an index to relate to the Tolkien's works included. The author has done a good job; considering that it is not plain easy to construct an
encyclopedia derives from tales. Indeed, literary codes always hinder; making it more difficult for one to grasp an author's original intention in writing his work. Although the book is supposedly an encyclopedia, this does not seem to be the author's
purpose. The title changing from A Tolkien Bestiary to Characters from Tolkien may explain that. While this book gives guides to explore Middle-earth; the author adorns it with acceptable thoughts of his own. As the consequence, some of his elaborations did not exactly correspond with those of Tolkien's. However that does not necessarily mean that the book is not worth to read. On the account of Telcontar, for instance, the author explained that this term is the Quenyan translation for 'Strider'—that is King Elessar's name during the war of the ring in the third age of sun. He then chose this as the name of his House. It led his descendants to call themselves as Telcontari. The term telcontari has in fact never appeared in any of the Tolkien's works above. Surprisingly, most people agree that it would be the correct plural form of telcontar; and it is repeatedly mentioned in other encyclopedias. There are a few other minor inaccuracies which possibly escape from reader's attention, unless s/he has read Tolkien's books more than once to remember the smallest details. It all then depends on one's intention in reading. For a technical research, there is definitely no better source than the original work. This book is practical, if used side by side with Tolkien's. Yet as an entertainment, it serves the purpose very well. It is more like the author's simplified version of Tolkien's Middle-earth; yet not less beautiful. There would be more accurate encyclopedic guides to Middle-earth in the future, but this one will always be the first. The reputation speaks for itself as it has had many title changes as well as been reprinted since it was first published in 1978.