Customer Reviews

Visualizing Middle-earth

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This book is easily categorized, and is best judged with an understanding of that category. 'Visualizing' is a book aimed at popular fan readership and is thus what has been called a a "fannish" book. That is not necessarily a qualitative statement, but it does set certain parameters. One need only look through the table of contents, what with chapters on 'Happy Hobbit Holidays,' 'Dear Gandalf' letters modeled on Dear Abby letters, an entire chapter on whether or not Balrogs have wings, to understand the direction and intended audience of this book. The author is an energetic fan of Tolkien and participates on numerous web-sites that discuss various fan issues of Tolkien's works. He is also a fan of 'Zena, Warrior Princess,' and participates regularly in Sci-Fi/Fantasy Gaming conventions. The book clearly reflects interests of this nature. There is, however, very little real scholarship to be found in 'Visualizing Middle Earth'. The book, as has been pointed out, is a collection of on-line essays, most from a popular Tolkien fan website that the author administers. Martinez delves very little into the academic and literary sources behind Tolkien's work, and when he does attempt to do so it becomes clear that he is an amateur scholar in the field of literature. I recommend this book to the many young men and women of highschool age (or those adults who still play D&D on the weekends) who want to explore the popular ideas to be found in 'The Lord of the Rings', but I would urge serious students of Tolkien criticism to look elsewhere. See Tom Shippey's 'Tolkien, Author of the Century', for instance.

Michael Martinez may call himself a 'Tolkien researcher', but anyone picking up _Visualizing Middle-Earth_ should be aware that this is not a work of serious scholarship. The various essays collected within are wholly fannish in style, character, and content. Many are just light-heared fannish musings and diversions, such as the essay entitled "Would Sandra Bullock Make a Good Mrs. Isildur?" (the actual title of one of the essays... honest!), or "Dear Gandalf" a humorous series of imagined letters from the Kings of Arnor to Gandalf written in the style of a "Dear Abby" column. Many others consist of nothing more than speculations and rumors about the upcoming _Lord of the Rings_ movies being directed by Peter Jackson and Martinez's musings upon them. Still others address questions as to whether Tolkien fans should consider the commercialization of Tolkien a good thing or a bad thing.

It is not clear to me how these kinds of essays constitute 'research'. Mere musings and opinions, even when interspersed with casually remarkable details derived from Tolkien's texts (such as noting that Isildur lived to be more than 200 years) are not scholarship, even using a broad definition of the word.

There are, I should note, a few essays in _Visualizing Middle-Earth_ (e.g. "As Strange as News from Bree") that seem like they're more scholarly in aspiration. Most of these, however, are conceptually flawed-- and unfortunately for Martinez, the flaw is fatal. Rather than approaching Tolkien's writings as imaginative works of literature in these essays, Martinez [approaches them as if] they were historical sources- and rather than writing genuine literary criticism of Tolkien's fiction, he writes as if he were a historian performing research into the history of Middle-earth. [...] Although Tolkien frames _The Lord of the Rings_ as if it were a kind of history (complete with appendices on genealogy, chronology, etc.), this is (as Tolkien himself noted) merely a literary device-- and Tolkien's writings are ultimately literary works. Trying to use the texts to conduct 'research' into the history of Bree, the dwelling-places of the rangers, or the 'actual' physical characteristics of balrogs may be a fun intellectual game for Tolkien fans to play, a kind of fan-fiction that wears a historian's mask, but it should not be confused with real literary scholarship of the sort done by Shippey, Flieger, Chance, Kocher, Giddings, Curry, Isaacs & Zimbardo, and other literary scholars.

In fact, of the several dozen essays in _Visualizing Middle-Earth_, only two even seem close to genuine literary criticism: "Middle-earth Is Not Medieval Europe" and a follow-up that specifically contends that the Rohirrim are not modelled on the Anglo-Saxons or other early Germanic peoples. Even here, however, Martinez [seems to approach] the question without any real literary critical sophistication or any awareness of how complex the nature of literary influences and adapations are. For example, he dismisses the fact that the Rohirrim have Anglo-Saxon names, that they speak Anglo-Saxon, that they look and dress like Anglo-Saxons, that Theoden's Hall is almost exactly like Hrothgar's in _Beowulf_, that they bury their dead in mounds (as did the Anglo-Saxons & early Scandinavians), etc. on the grounds that there is not a 100% identity between the Rohirrim and the Anglo-Saxons. The Anglo-Saxons, Martinez notes, were a seafaring people, while the Rohirrim are a landlocked people famed for horse-riding. Additionally, he notes, the early Anglo-Saxons were pagans who later converted to Christianity, while _The Lord of the Rings_ says nothing of the religion of the Rohirrim. This, combined with the fact that he's read a whole two Viking sagas (in translation, of course) and saw no fruitful comparisons to the Rohirrim there, leads Martinez to conclude that the Rohirrim are ultimately not comparable to the Anglo-Saxons or other early Germanic peoples.

Ultimately, I suppose that there are some Tolkien fans out there who might enjoy _Visualizing Middle-Earth_. Anyone who likes reading on-line Tolkien newsgroups and chatrooms and just engaging in all sorts of fannish discussion on anything remotely related to Tolkien will probably find that Martinez's book is an entertaining read. But anyone who comes expecting to find a work of serious scholarship and erudition should prepare to be very disappointed.

Michael Martinez is a dedicated self-made Tolkien researcher with a penchant for detailed Web and newsgroup debates and essays on the fine points of Tolkien's creation. Most (if not all) of the essays in this book have appeared in his on-line columns and commentary. Martinez's main interest is the history of ME, although some essays deal with the pop-cultural impact of Tolkien's books and the upcoming movies. If you (like me) are fascinated by Middle Earth mostly because of it's incredibly detailed pseudo-history and pseudo-culture, then this book is a must have. Although Martinez is, by some definitions, an amateur essayist, his writing is very good, close to that of many well-regarded and well-published non-fiction essayists. My one complaint is that I wish the book were longer. Since it covers mostly his 1999 on-line essays, several more recent ones that I enjoyed are not included. I can only hope for a second volume, or perhaps these essays will be rolled into a larger work that Martinez is planning.

This is one of the oddest collections of reviews I have ever read. It seems there are only three types. Those who do not like this book, those who do, and those who think that if someone does not like it then they must have it in for the author (obviously this last group either likes the book or is a friend of the author--maybe the author himself?). Why is it that if someone dislikes the book they must be practicing a poison pen campaign? I do not like it and I am not out to hinder this book's sales. Regardless, this is the first book published by this author. He is an unknown, so how could so many people have it in for him?

I found the book to be rather amateurish myself and it was not the Middle Earth that I have visualized in my many reads of Tolkien over the past 20 years. I often disagreed with the viewpoints of the author, and even when he pointed to the books, or to Tolkien's letters as evidence I did not find his proofs that compelling. There are many interpretations of Tolkien's books, and many "visualizations" that can be reached. This author's evidence is not always proof of his personal viewpoints. In fact, I found some of his evidence could be just as easily used to support an opposing opinion. I just did not like the content (though of course anything on Tolkien is inherently interesting in some ways). And I found the writing to be weak and the conclusions to be misguided more often than they were on the mark. As for it being scholarhsip (why this seems to be such a huge debate I do not know), it is not really strictly such. It is a close reading of Tolkien's works and the author comments rarely on the vast literary tradition into which Tolkien's works can be placed or the equally vast body of criticism written on Tolkien. Scholarship would have addressed less pop items and looked more at the linguistics, literary style, past literary influeces (like Old English and mythology). The author, Martinez, really only mentions these in passing and often as an attempt to distance Tolkien from such concerns. In that way more than any other the author is misguided, as Tolkien himself was VERY mush a part of the literary tradition of scholarship. The book is better, in fact, when the author stears clear of real scholarship and concentrates on specific fan issues that have swirled about this body of literature for decades.

I can't understand why anyone would belittle the obvious high quality of the research behind this book. When I picked up Visualizing Middle-earth I thought it would talk about how to make a movie. There are some essays on the movies but the real work is about Middle-earth itself. I really enjoyed "Hobbit Tales, or Never There and Back Again", which reveals many anecdotes about Hobbit history you don't normally find in other books.

Another favorite part is the essay on the Rohirrim. I like the way Martinez carefully reviews all sides of the issue and weighs in fairly. He knows the material and has studied Tolkien's sources well enough. He understands what he is talking about better than many. The examination of the Icelandic sagas is a good example. Martinez picked two lesser-known sagas to show how a typical Icelandic tale is really laid out. He also goes into detail about Iceland's history. Maybe that bores some people who like to skip over relevant facts. But this is an important part of the process of understanding how Tolkien made up his legends.

Martinez also points out that the ancient Germans were around for a long time. He knows their history and culture and his arguments stand on clear fact and logic.

The two essays on the Dwarves are an astounding work of scholarship. The reader simply comes away wondering how Tolkien managed to write so much about the Dwarves and share so little of it. Martinez finds details in the oddest places and puts them together. He also traces the development of Tolkien's literary dwarves from evil creatures to the noble and dignified warriors of the Lord of the Rings.

The history of Arnor, told again and again from different points of view, comes alive under Martinez' hand. He tells the story as if he has lived it. He offers numerous citations from the books and substantiates nearly everything he says. Even after the fall of the kingdom, Eriador remains a busy, bustling place as Martinez talks about how the Shire kept trade going with other survivors.

The one essay sure to raise the hackles of Martinez' critics is the review of the Balrog wings controversy. Wired Magazine says Martinez lived through the Balrog wars, so he must have a first-hand point of view. He covers all the objections to Balrog wings logically. I think he is pretty fair about it. His pro-wing arguments are nothing like the distorted views anti-wingers fight against. Tilting at windmills must be a popular game among Tolkien critics.

But if you buy this book for only one reason, I think it should be for the essay at the very end. "Understanding Magic in Middle-earth" is the longest and most exceptional work in the book. It strikes one as very authoritative and thorough. And Martinez opens with "Magic is very hard to define". He lays it on the line and then proceeds to build a definition which works for Tolkien. Like so many other subjects, Martinez uses magic as an excuse to explore the rich history of Middle-earth. The essay could almost be called "magic through the ages". But by the time you finish reading the essay, it's like a light has just gone on for you. Suddenly, it all makes sense. There is a system to the magic after all. It is beautiful and rhythmic and natural, and not something Tolkien made up out of whimsy.

Buy Visualizing Middle-earth because you love Tolkien and Middle-earth. Ignore it only if you don't have that thirst for more which obviously drove Martinez to write these wonderful essays in the first place. Call them scholarly or fannish, they are among the best literature on Tolkien you'll find.

Michael Martinez understands Middle-earth as well as anyone I have read. He looks at the world Tolkien created as most readers do. Visualizing Middle-earth explores some of the more interesting points with a clear grasp of the facts. For anyone to question Martinez' scholarship is nuts. He shows where Tolkien drew the lines. Martinez also satisfies the reader's thirst for more knowledge and information.

Why should anyone want to read the dry theories of literary critics anyway? They don't talk about Middle-earth. They try to explain it all away as some escapist fantasy. Martinez lives the fantasy, which is what we all want to do when we read the book. He walks into Tolkien's imagination and unlocks door after door, leaving no hallway unexplored.

But even after an expert like Martinez finishes leading me through Middle-earth I feel the need to know more. His research and scholarship have always inspired me. I wish most writers had his thorough knowledge of the books. How many times have I picked up someone else's book and found simple mistakes? Too many.

You have to know Middle-earth better than Martinez to beat him at this game. Visualizing Middle-earth proves that Tolkien's books are worth studying in depth for their own sake. This is an important book for any serious Tolkien collector. Don't pass it up.

I really enjoyed reading Michael's interpretations of Middle-earth. He has a gift for digging deep into the books for clues to solve many riddles Tolkien created. Readers who want to appreciate Middle-earth for all its wonderful stories should buy this book. There is simply nothing else like it and all comparisons to other books are unfair. I think anyone who worries about literary critcism has missed the whole point of Middle-earth.

Professor Tolkien is gone and we cannot hope to read new stories about his world. But Michael Martinez writes entertaining essays which carry the reader along on a magical tour of Middle-earth. Yes, he treats it as if the world were real. But isn't that how Professor Tolkien treated Middle-earth? Isn't that part of why we love Middle-earth so much? How else should one explore Middle-earth? How else should it be visualized?

I have enjoyed all of Michael Martinez's essays for several years. He is thorough and keeps an amazing grasp of all the facts about Middle-earth without losing sight of what his readers enjoy most. Mr. Martinez is one of my favorite Tolkien critics because he looks at the world inside the book and not the world behind the book. Readers always want to know more about Middle-earth. Even professor Tolkien said so. Michael Martinez makes it possible for the average reader to find out so many interesting things and to understand why professor Tolkien did things just so.

For example, Mr. Martinez speculates on when Sauron took the Dwarf rings of power and why he would have taken them. He suggests that the dragon attacks on the Dwarves may have alarmed Sauron into doing something before all the rings were lost. He supports his theory by looking at the history professor Tolkien gave us about the Dwarves, Sauron, and the dragons. One by one, Mr. Martinez eliminates unlikely possibilities and arrives at very logical conclusions.

In the essay on the rangers, Mr. Martinez looks at the history of Aragorn's family. He very neatly lays out all the clues professor Tolkien put into the stories about where the rangers lived. Every passage in The Lord of the Rings that speaks of the rangers or those who came before them is included. After what seems like a breath-taking whirlwind tour of Eriador, the reader is led directly to the only logical place where Aragorn's people could live. The book does not say so, but Mr. Martinez was vinidcated some time after this essay was written. David Salo, another well-known Tolkien scholar, found a note in the Marquette University archive from the professor's own hand. He had written that Aragorn's people lived precisely where Mr. Martinez said they should be found.

For me, the most touching part of the book is the essay on the "real" heroes of Middle-earth. They were not whom you would expect. Mr. Martinez displays a great talent for unearthing the painful and joyous events in professor Tolkien's life which had a real impact on his writing. I am sure that Tolkien's biographers also share these anecdotes. But Michael Martinez brings them into focus for the Middle-earth student unlike any other author. The death of Geoffrey Bache Smith, a man none of us have known, tugs at the heart when you see how deeply it affected his friend J.R.R. Tolkien.

All the silly debates about who has wings and who is medieval only get in the way of the truly meaningful parts of the book. I am sure Mr. Martinez has his reasons for spurring on the arguments. But to me this book is valuable because its author understands Middle-earth better than anyone else I have had the privilege of reading. Except for J.R.R. Tolkien himself. I cannot recommend this book enough, as all my friends well know!

I bought this book 2 weeks ago after reading some reviews here. Do not be duped. This book is pure fluff. I do not understand why there is even a debate over whether or not it is scholarship. Apparently those who assert that it is do not know what scholarship means. It is a book full of "oh neats," "way cools," and "what ifs." Not to say there is not a market for that. A million 8th grade nerds can't be wrong! But please, come to the book with the right assumptions or you will be grossly disappointed.

It seems someone is trying to prevent people from enjoying one of the most pleasing Tolkien commentaries available on the market today. Michael Martinez looks at Middle-earth in a new and earnest fashion which I find refreshing and informative. He explains the concepts underlying Tolkien's world vision. Visualizing Middle-earth isn't literary criticism or about literary criticism. It's a fascinating journey through the imagination of the greatest author of the 20th century.

Martinez has been answering fan questions for years, and he seems to address every possible aspect of Middle-earth. Did you ever want to know where Aragorn's people lived? Visualizing Middle-earth rules out the impossibilities and shows exactly how Tolkien had planted the answer right under his readers' noses.

The essay on understanding magic in Middle-earth is a marvellous examination of the principles Tolkien employed in creating a tight framework of rules. I never imagined that music and song and poetry were so important to Middle-earth until I read this essay. And Martinez doesn't simply tell you things are a certain way. He considers many sides of different issues and offers a well-balanced and thoughtful commentary.

His tone and style offer the average reader an easy, comfortable experience. This is scholarship of the highest standard written for the everyday audience. Martinez doesn't push an exotic category on the reader. Instead, he lets you roam through your own imagination as he paints detail after detail about Tolkien's world. Gleaning the smallest tidbits from 20 books written by J.R.R. Tolkien and his son Christopher is a lifetime's occupation for most people. Martinez makes it seem so easy and natural. He's done the hard work for the rest of us.

If you buy only one book on Tolkien and Middle-earth in the coming year, that book should be Visualizing Middle-earth. If you are building a library for your own research, Visualizing Middle-earth is a must-have resource. Anyone who says otherwise just doesn't get Middle-earth.