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Summary: This box set takes the BBC's versions of J.R.R. Tolkien's classics: "The Hobbit" and "The Lord of the Rings trilogy" and sticks them together into one convenient place. These are abridged versions of the books, and so they don't contain certain [relatively unimportant] parts and characters; for example Tom Bombadil isn't here. Each book is roughly 4 hours long and is spread over 4-5 CDs. The audio books were originally done by British actors and are all over twenty years old. Packaging: The four audio books come in a large black box with a cool hologram picture on the front. Each book is in a triple CD case (Think: the case-size for the CD version of the Beatles White Album.) with art by John Howe (John Howe was also a major contributor to the Lord of the Rings movie art design.) covering the front of each. It would have been nice if there had been a few more extras included, such as perhaps a booklet explaining a few things. However, I'm being fairly nitpicky concerning these things. What really disappointed me by the packaging was the fact that there is nothing included which lists the names (Chapters) of the tracks. So, if you were trying to find a place on one of the audio CDs that corresponds with a place in one of the books, you would have a very difficult time doing so. It really doesn't make much sense and I don't know why tracks and chapters weren't listed on the CD cases or somewhere else in the packaging. Audio Quality: The audio quality for these audio books leaves a few things to be desired. Some of the sound effects and music samples sound very dated and/or slightly fuzzy, esp. in The Hobbit. Also, the voices aren't always clear, with some not loud enough, and others with an echo sound to them. Furthermore, while the script music is very good and the musicians are very capable, the recordings sound like they are being played off of a record and not a CD; they just aren't as clear and clean as I would like. Still, while the audio quality isn't great, it also isn't terrible; in other words: it generally gets the job done. (Besides, these recordings are all over 20 years old, and a few audio quality problems should be expected.) Voice Acting: This is definitely the high point of this audio book collection. The BBC has brought together a very talented cast and many are well-known British actors. Ian Holm plays Bilbo here (As he did in Peter Jackson's movies.), and he brings a lot of life into his character. The fellowship also sounds very good, as each actor makes you believe in the goal(s) of the quest. Version: I was disappointed when I initially learned these weren't unabridged audio books. However, you'll find that what they did cut out was relatively unimportant, and I never felt like they were cutting something out that is critical to the main story. Besides, most people listening to this have probably already read the books anyways and already know about the little characters and pieces of history that were left out. Think of these as expanded and more accurate versions of the movies, rather then shorter versions of the books. If you do, you'll be a lot happier with this set. Conclusion: Once you get past the mostly minor problems of this set, you'll find it is a very enjoyable audio experience with lots of excitement and excellent storytelling. The good far outweighs the bad here, and I really think these are the best audio book versions of these books. Recommended to fans of good Lit!Read full review
Get the set that pretty much set the standard.
Verified purchase: Yes | Condition: Pre-owned
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