History Literature / TheLordOfTheRings

Though it (re-)popularised the {{trilogy}} format for fiction, it was written as one book and originally just divided into three for economic reasons[[note]]This is also the reason why the first two books of the ''Literature/TheMerchantPrincesSeries'' was published in four volumes in the US and two [[DoorStopper doorstoppers]] in the UK[[/note]]. It has also been published in seven-volume editions, as each of the three original volumes includes two Books and the third also has several [[AllThereInTheManual Appendices]].

Though it (re-)popularised the {{trilogy}} format for fiction, it was written as one book and originally just divided into three for postwar budgeting reasons. It has also been published in seven-volume editions, as each of the three original volumes includes two Books and the third also has several [[AllThereInTheManual Appendices]].

* ''WesternAnimation/TheLordOfTheRings'' ([[WesternAnimation animated]]) -- The Creator/RalphBakshi [[AnimatedAdaptation animated adaptation]]. Intended to be the [[MovieMultipack first of two films]], in vain.

* ''Film/TheLordOfTheRings'' ([[FilmSeries film series]]) -- The Creator/PeterJackson [[LiveActionAdaptation live-action adaptation]] as a film trilogy. The most modern (and, by now, easily the most well-known) version. Later followed by his adaptation of ''Film/TheHobbit'', which was expanded into another trilogy.

* ''The Keepers'' -- A 1991 Soviet adaptation of the ''Fellowship'' (the title is its name in the translation used), formerly believed lost after a single broadcast. In March 2021, the studio found a copy and [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vquKyNdgH3s uploaded it]] [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oLevCLNnLmg to YouTube]].

[[caption-width-right:350:''"My... precious."''\\]]

Though it (re-)popularised the {{trilogy}} format for fiction, it was written as one book and originally just divided into three for postwar budgeting reasons. It has also been published in seven-volume editions, as each of the three original volumes includes two Books (each getting its own appendices) and the third also has several additional [[AllThereInTheManual Appendices]].

Though it (re-)popularised the {{trilogy}} format for fiction, it was written as one book and originally just divided into three for postwar budgeting reasons. It has also been published in seven-volume editions, as each of the three original volumes includes two Books and the third also has several [[AllThereInTheManual Appendices]].

* [[Characters/TheLordOfTheRings Tropes applied to characters]]

* A low-budget Ukrainian/Russian miniseries “Series/TheRingsOfPowerOrTheSeventhRingOfAWitch”, made in 1998. Uses the general premise and some plotlines of the novels, but completely changes the setting, characters’ names, races and relationships.

[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/deadmarsh.jpg]]
[[caption-width-right:350: "[[AreWeThereYet Are we there yet?]]"]]
->''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 the darkness bind them'''''
->''In the Land of Mordor where the Shadows lie.''

''The Lord of the Rings'' by Creator/JRRTolkien is too well-known, and too complex, to be [[Recap/TheLordOfTheRings summarised in full]]. Succinctly, it is by far the most recent addition to the {{canon}} of Western epic literature and is the [[TheEpic epic]] which set the stage for the entire HighFantasy genre that followed in its wake. Interestingly, the story was originally intended as a ''shorter'' sequel to ''Literature/TheHobbit'', but as its author famously remarked, "the tale grew in the telling." ''Literature/TheSilmarillion'', posthumously published, serves as a prequel to this, though its material was first written of all.
[[hardline]]

Though it (re-)popularised the {{trilogy}} format for fiction, it was written as one book and originally just divided into three for postwar budgeting reasons. It has also been published in seven-volume editions, as each of the three original volumes includes two Books and the third also has several [[AllThereInTheManual Appendices.]]

* A low-budget Ukrainian/Russian miniseries “The Rings of Power, or the Seventh Ring of a Witch”, made in 1998. Uses the general premise and some plotlines of the novels, but completely changes the setting, characters’ names, races and relationships.

-->''Seven for the Dwarf-lords in their halls of stone,''

-->''One for the Dark Lord on his dark throne''

-->'''''One Ring to rule them all, One Ring to find them,'''''
-->'''''One Ring to bring them all and in the darkness bind them'''''

* A low-budget Ukrainian/Russian miniseries “The Rings of Power, or the Seventh Ring of a Witch”, made in 1998. Uses the general premise and some plot points of the novels, but completely changes the setting, characters’ names, races and relationships.

* A low-budget Ukrainian/Russian miniseries “The Rings of Power or the Seventh Ring of a Witch”, made in 1998. Uses the general premise and some plot points of the novels, but completely changes the setting, characters’ names, races and relationships.

* An upcoming TV series from Amazon, which is set an unknown time before ''Fellowship''. It has not been confirmed if it deals with the main events of the books, or draws from the more distant past featured in the Appendices, or even if it's in continuity with the Jackson movies or not.

The Harvard Lampoon published a parody titled ''Literature/BoredOfTheRings'' in 1969, which manages to cover the entire journey in under 200 pages.

* ''Film/TheLordOfTheRings'' ([[{{Film}} film series]]) -- The Creator/PeterJackson [[LiveActionAdaptation live-action adaptation]] as a film trilogy. The most modern (and, by now, easily the most well-known) version. Later followed by his adaptation of ''Film/TheHobbit'', which was expanded into another trilogy.

* ''Film/TheLordOfTheRings'' ([[LiveActionFilm film series]]) -- The Creator/PeterJackson [[LiveActionAdaptation live-action adaptation]] as a film trilogy. The most modern (and, by now, [[AdaptationDisplacement easily the most well-known]]) version. Later followed by his adaptation of ''Film/TheHobbit'', which was expanded into another trilogy.

''The Lord of the Rings'' by Creator/JRRTolkien is too well-known, and too complex, to be [[Synopsis/TheLordOfTheRings summarised in full]]. Succinctly, it is by far the most recent addition to the {{canon}} of Western epic literature and is the [[TheEpic epic]] which set the stage for the entire HighFantasy genre that followed in its wake. Interestingly, the story was originally intended as a ''shorter'' sequel to ''Literature/TheHobbit'', but as its author famously remarked, "the tale grew in the telling." ''Literature/TheSilmarillion'', posthumously published, serves as a prequel to this, though its material was first written of all.

[[caption-width-right:350: "[[AreWeThereYet ... Are we there yet?]]" "Almost, [[VerbalTic precious]][[labelnote:*]][[{{Doorstopper}} give or take another twelve chapters]][[/labelnote]]."]]

In addition, the books have been adapted multiple times for radio (a 1981 BBC version being the most highly regarded) and theatre (most recently as a 2006 musical, retooled for the West End from 2007-2008). The books and adaptations themselves have inspired various video games, tabletop games and card games.

In addition, the books have been adapted for radio and theatre multiple times. The books and adaptations themselves have inspired various video games, tabletop games and card games.

* ''Film/TheLordOfTheRings'' ([[LiveActionFilm film series]]) -- The Creator/PeterJackson [[LiveActionAdaptation live-action adaptation]] as a film trilogy]]. The most modern (and, by now, [[AdaptationDisplacement easily the most well-known]]) version. Later followed by his adaptation of ''Film/TheHobbit'', which was expanded into another trilogy.