Bored of the Rings: A Parody of J. R. R. Tolkien's Lord of the Rings (Signet) [Paperback]

Harvard Lampoon (Author), Henry Beard (Author), Douglas C. Kenney (Author)

Book Description

Series: Signet | Publication Date: September 1, 1969

Sometimes childish, sometimes rude, always clever and always very, very funny this book has delighted most, and outraged a few, Tolkien fans in the US for nearly 30 years. Pulling in references to popular culture and fantasy literature as a whole this is a killingly effective parody of Lord of the Rings. From the dreary Goddamn (Gollum), to the feckless Arrowroot (Aragorn), the bungling Goodgulf (Gandalf) to the timid, meanminded boggies Frito (Frodo) and Dildo (Bilbo) no character is safe. Fleeing the Nozdrul, bored by acid-casualty Tim Benzedrine and harrassed throughout by the minions of Sorhed the fellowship move through a Middle Earth like no other. Short, sharp and very much to the point even Tolkien would be hard-pressed to surpress a giggle at Bored of the Rings.

--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

The Harvard Lampoon are Douglas Kenney and Henry Beard. They wrote Bored of the Rings when they were at Harvard University. They then went on to found The National Lampoon, America's most notorious satirical institution. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

• Paperback
• Publisher: Signet (September 1, 1969)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0451137302
• ISBN-13: 978-0451137302
• Product Dimensions: 6.9 x 4 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (19 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #7,615,487 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars The Harvard Lampoon's take on Tolkien's "Lord of the Rings", December 16, 2004

By 

Lawrance M. Bernabo (The Zenith City, Duluth, Minnesota) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (COMMUNITY FORUM 04)    (TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)   

This review is from: Bored of the Rings: A Parody of J. R. R. Tolkien's Lord of the Rings (Paperback)

Despite a background in literature I actually remember very few lines of verse, but amongst those committed to memory are the lines: "We Boggies are a merry folk/who like to eat until we choke/loving all like friend and brother/and hardly ever eat each other" (which is followed up a chorus that repeats the word "gobble" a whole bunch of times). "Bored of the Rings," the Harvard Lampoon parody of J.R.R. Tolkien's "Lord of the Rings," was written by Douglas C. Kenney and Henry N. Beard at the end of the Sixties, right before they went off into the real world to found "The National Lampoon" and at a time when the Trilogy was required reading for fans of fantasy.

Of course, it goes without saying that much of what you will find in here will be grossly offensive and that if you are not well versed in Tolkien's Trilogy then the story of the ring that was given by Dildo Bugger to his nephew Frito, who then embarked with his servant Spam, his friends Moxie and Pepsi, Goodgulf Grayteeth the wizard, Stomper the ranger (a.k.a. Arrowroot of Arrowshirt), Bromosel, Gimlet the dwarf and Legolam the elf across Lower Middle Earth to the dark land of Fordor is not going to make much sense. For that matter you had better be well versed in the drug culture of the Sixties and the political machinations of Richard Nixon to get all of the references (I just realized: we need an annotated edition of "Bored of the Rings"). Even if you have seen the movies and recognize the lady Hashberry, you still need to have read the books to know who Tom Benzedrine is in the grand scheme of things.

My favorite scene are when the Ballhog shows up and when Goddam and the ring meet their final fate. This is a lengthy parody, necessitated by the size of the work that inspired this insanity. Despite the low-brown humor involved with the playful names, there is some college level sophistication to the parody as well. However, if you consider Tolkien to be sacred text, then do not go anywhere near "Bored of the Rings" because you will be grossly offended (and probably several other types of offended as well). I will still maintain that the wicked sense of humor here is inspired by an affection for Tolkien's work, but understand that there will be those who dismiss that idea.

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars All-time funniest, March 18, 2000

By 

D. Rasmussen (Salt Lake City, Utah) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Bored of the Rings: A Parody of J. R. R. Tolkien's Lord of the Rings (Signet) (Paperback)

"...AAAEEEEE! A Ballhog!" This is a true cult classic. You won't find a used book store clerk that doesn't know off the top of the head whether or not it's in stock. I dare any J.R.R. fan read an entire paragraph without busting out in laughter. The poetry is particularly thought provoking, lovely and inspirational. <Pity I ran out of bullets>

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Bored of the Rings, March 7, 2002

By A Customer

This review is from: Bored of the Rings: A Parody of J. R. R. Tolkien's Lord of the Rings (Signet) (Paperback)

I bought this book when it first came out. Was reading on a long flight. I had to put it away because my out-loud laughter was interferring with other passengers! Once read, you'll never see the original in the same way! Purists beware: this hilarious parody may make you mad if you're humor-impaired.