Fantasy

Three Rings for the Elven-kings under the sky,
Seven for the Dwarf-Lords in their halls of stone,
Nine for Mortal Men doomed to die,
One for the Dark Lord on his dark throne,
In the Land of Mordor where the Shadows lie.
One Ring to rule them all, One Ring to find them,
One Ring to bring them all and in darkness bind them,
In the Land of Mordor where the Shadows lie.

J.R.R.Tolkien's fantasy classic, The Hobbit, originally told to his children has always been a favorite of adults as well (sort of like the Harry Potter series but much more adventure!). The main Hobbit in the story is Bilbo Baggins, a hobbit of substance and somewhat sedentary habits. One day he is visited by a crusty wizard, Gandalf, and a gaggle of dwarves. By supper time he has accepted a challenge to go on an expedition to steal back a fortune from a live dragon, and liberate the ancient home of his companions. Fire and swords lie before him - but, fortunately, he doesn't know that.

The Lord of the Rings was written in 12 years by J.R.R. Tolkien. It is a single novel consisting of three books plus appendices. The Book tells the tale of Frodo Baggins, a Hobbit who suddenly finds himself faced with an immense task: He must leave his home in The Shire, and make a perilous journey across the realms of Middle-Earth to the Crack of Doom, deep inside the territories of the Dark Lord. There he must destroy the One Ring forever and foil the Dark Lord in his evil purpose.

After J.R.R.Tolkien's death in 1973, his son and literary executor, Christopher Tolkien, followed his father's wishes and gathered up his notes and literary papers of almost 60 years of storytelling to form the history of the First Age of Middle-earth. This became Tolkien's hitherto unfinished The Silmarillion. A series of compact and elegaic episodes tells the story of the creation of Arda, the coming of Elves and Men to Middle-earth, and their war with the Great Enemy to save the early world from destruction. The Silmarillion contains the historic background to the world of The Lord of the Rings, including the tale of Beren and Lúthien, and the history and downfall of Numenor, the original home of the Dunedain.

Who were the members of the Fellowship of the Ring?
4 Hobbits - 2 Men - 1 Wizard - 1 Drawf - 1 Elf (good guys!)

Let's look at the Hobbits:
Frodo - the Ringbearer. Frodo was the only son of Drogo Baggins and Primula Brandybuck. His parents both died in the year 2980, so he was adopted by his cousin Bilbo Baggins, the wealthy bachelor. Upon Frodo's coming of age, Bilbo parted from the Shire, and left nearly all of his worldly belongings, including Bag End, to Frodo. In 3018, Frodo travelled to Rivendell under the name Mr. Underhill to escape pursuit of Sauron's forces. Along the way he received a near deadly blow from a Morgul knife dealt by a Nazgul. In Rivendell, he volunteered to destroy the Ring in Mordor. 8 companions were chosen to accompany him on his quest.He had many heroic adventures with and without the Fellowship before he finally reached The Cracks of Doom, where at the moment of truth, he claimed the Ring for himself. Shortly thereafter he was overtaken by Gollum, who during a fight for the Ring, bit off Frodo's finger, and fell himself into the fire. After the War of the Ring, Frodo was, for a while, mayor of Michel Delving. but constantly feeling dejected and unfulfilled, sailed over the sea with Gandalf and Bilbo.

Sam - Samwise Gamgee. Samwise was the youngest son of Hamfast Gamgee. He led a fairly uneventful life up until his beginnings in the tale of the Ring. Sam was deeply curious about elves, partly because of this, (and partly because he was an eavesdropper), he was selected by Gandalf to accompany Frodo to Rivendell. Elrond also selected him to join the fellowship of the ring. Throughout the journey, Sam proved his loyalty several times over, and without him the quest would have surely failed. After the betrayal by Smeagol to Shelob, Sam saved the ring from falling into enemy hands, and attempted to destroy the Ring himself. Samwise's strength and plain hobbit sense allowed him to resist the lure of the Ring's power, and realise that it was to much a task for him to do alone. After the War of the ring, Sam was elected Mayor of Michel Delving 7 times. He and his wife Rosie Cotton had 13 children before her death in Fourth age 82, when he sailed over the sea as the last of the Ring Bearers.

Merry - Meriadoc Brandybuck. Merry was always a close friend of Frodo Baggins, and with Pippin and Samwise, spied out Frodo's plan to leave the Shire and unexpectedly joined him on his journey to Rivendell. Upon the arrival in Rivendell, Merry was selected to join the Fellowship, though Elrond was against it. Gandalf thought that the loyalty of a true friend may have been better than the might of a warrior. Merry travelled with the company to Parth Galen, where he and Pippin were captured by orcs. Merry and Pippin managed to escape into Fangorn forest during an attack on the orcs by the Rohirrim. There they met Treebeard, and played a major part in the rousing of the Ents and the destruction of Isengard. It was in Isengard where Merry met King Theoden, unto whom he pledged his service. He rode with Dernhelm, of Theoden's army, to Gondor. He fought valiantly in the Battle of the Pelennor Fields, and aided in the avenging of Theoden's death. Merry was nearly killed by the black breath, but was healed by Aragorn. After the War of the Ring, Merry was made a knight of Rohan, and treated with honor whenever he returned. He then went home to the Shire, where he was one of the leading forces in its scouring. Upon the death of his father, Meriadoc was made Master of Buckland, and was known as Meriadoc the Magnificent.

Pippin - Peregrin Took. A long time friend of Frodo Baggins, he was, although not by the choice of Frodo at first, a companion on the road to Rivendell. After the Council, Pippin was very adamant that he intended to join the Fellowship, whether he had the approval of the Council or no. Though he made two very crucial mistakes along the road, first tossing a stone into the well in Moria, and second, looking into the Palantir, Pippin far surpassed proving his worthiness. Notable deeds concerning Pippin's tale in LotR include, aiding in the rousing of the Ents, and after travelling with Gandalf to Gondor, offering his sword in service to the Steward of the city. In the final battle of the War of the Ring, Pippin was narrowly saved by Gimli, when he was crushed under the body of a mountain troll.

Now the Men:
Aragorn - a.k.a., Elfstone, Strider, Longshanks, Wingfoot, Elessar, Thorongil, Estel, Telcontar, The Dunedan, the Renewer, Isildur's Heir. He led the Fellowship after Gandalf's fall into Moria as far as Parth Galen. Aragorn, Gimli, and Legolas then turned toward Isengard in pursuit of the band of orcs that had captured Merry and Pippin. After meeting up with Gandalf again, seeing the destruction of Isengard, and finding Merry and Pippin safe, Aragorn then made for the Paths of the Dead because of what he saw in the Palantir. Once he emerged from the Paths of the Dead, he arrived in Gondor with a large army of men, and turned the tide of the battle of the Pellennor Fields. Soon after, He was Captain of the Army of the West, which rode forth to challenge Sauron. After the War of the Ring, Aragorn was crowned king of the reunited kingdom, and wed Arwen Evenstar. During his reign, he restored peace to the land, and extended its borders. Aragorn met and instantly fell in love with Arwen when he was twenty years old, but Elrond would not permit a wedding until he had reclaimed his throne.

Boromir Eldest son of Denethor II, Boromir was a proud man: proud of himself, and his city. After leading the forces against Sauron at Osgiliath, he went to Rivendell to learn of the answer to the dream he shared with his brother Faramir. At the Council of Elrond he was chosen as a companion in the Fellowship of the Ring. Boromir could be credited with Aragorn for saving the lives of the Fellowship on Caradhras, tunneling through the snow to get the party to safety. Boromir was valiant in battle, as he proved in Moria. However, Boromir had been tempted by the power of the Ring since he first learned of its whereabouts, and the temptation finally proved too much for him at Amon Hen, where he attempted to take the ring from Frodo by force. He instantly repented, but his rant forced Frodo's immediate decision to leave the Fellowship, and strike out for Mordor on his own. Boromir was killed shortly thereafter, defending Pippin and Merry from a raiding orc-band.

The Wizard
Gandalf. Gandalf entered into Middle Earth as one of the Istari, and was deemed the wisest of the order by Galadriel. He has been said to be the person most responsible for Sauron's downfall, laboring nonstop for roughly 2000 years to put an end to his reign. Gandalf was the bearer of Narya, the Ring of Fire, given to him by Cirdan when he arrived in Middle Earth. Gandalf always held Hobbits near to his heart, and he also held their race in high regard. When Bilbo found the Ring, Gandalf immediately suspected that it was the One Ring, but allowed Bilbo to keep it, for he knew Bilbo to be strong, and innocent: plus he knew no safer place for it, and he dare not be tempted with it himself. In the year 3001, Gandalf persuaded Bilbo to leave the Ring to Frodo, and shortly thereafter, Gandalf set in motion the Quest of Mount Doom. Gandalf was one of the most important people at the Council of Elrond, because he alone knew the full history of Sauron and the Ring. Although he fell battling the Balrog in Moria, he was sent back to Middle Earth as Gandalf the White to complete his errand. Aside from aiding Frodo in his journey, Gandalf did many other chief deeds during the War of the Ring, including freeing Theoden from the evil spells of Saruman and Wormtongue, and casting Saruman out and taking over as the head of the White Council. After the War of the Ring Gandalf sailed from the Grey Havens with Elrond, Bilbo, and Frodo. It is believed that he also took his beloved horse, Shadowfax.

The Elf
Legolas. Sindarin elf of the woodland realm, in the year 3019, Legolas journeyed to Rivendell to sit on the Council of Elrond, and was chosen to represent the Elves in the Fellowship. In Lorien, Legolas and Gimli became close friends, a friendship that lasted the rest of their lives. Legolas' keen sight and archery skills were his greatest asset to the Fellowship. After the Breaking of the Fellowship, Legolas went with Gimli and Aragorn in search of Merry and Pippin, and fought in the battle of Hornburg. He eventually went to Gondor, and fought in the Battle of the Pelennor Fields; while in Gondor, he had his first glimpse of the sea, and was overcome by a deep desire to sail from that moment on. After the War of the Ring, he journeyed with Gimli to visit the Glittering Caves and Fangorn Forest. In the Year 120 FO, after the death of Aragorn, Legolas sailed over the sea, taking Gimli the dwarf with him, the last of the Fellowship.

The Drawf
Gimli. In 3018, Gimli accompanied his father to Rivendell, was chosen to represent the Dwarves in the Fellowship, and aided Gandalf in leading the company through Moria. He was the first dwarf to enter Lorien since Durin's Day, and was held in awe by the beauty of the Lady Galadriel. He became very close friends with Legolas, and journeyed throughout Middle Earth with him after the War of the Ring. Also after the War of the Ring, Gimli led a band of dwarvish smiths in reforging the gates of Gondor in mithril and steel, and he was the Lord of the Glittering Caves. In Fo 120, he sailed over the sea with Legolas.