Post by Fredeghar Wayfarer on Sept 19, 2018 20:11:22 GMT -6
Anyone else have a copy of this yet? This is Christopher Tolkien's standalone treatment of one of the "Great Tales" of the First Age, like he did with The Children of Hurin and Beren and Luthien. This could very well be the last official book of Middle-earth (unless someone else takes over as literary executor after Christopher).
So far, I've read the original tale and part of the later drafts. Other than a few names that were changed later (and a First Age cameo by Legolas!), the original tale is pretty close to the final version and holds up well as a story in its own right. It has way more detail about Gondolin, its various noble houses, and their coats of arms than other versions. It also has some really cool scenes and imagery that I had forgotten about. For instance, when the city is invaded, Idril puts on chainmail and insists on carrying a sword, despite the protests of her guards. No wilting waif is our Ms. Silverfoot! I also loved the battle between Tuor and Meglin the Dark Elf. It's more detailed than other versions, with Meglin trying to stab young Earendel but being thwarted by his mail shirt, Tuor breaking Meglin's arm, and of course the infamous scene of Meglin being tossed from the walls of the city. He bounces off the rocks a few times and plunges into the fire. Yeesh.
Overall, I like the treatment of this more than Beren and Luthien. I was a bit disappointed by that book. I had hoped it would be presented as a standalone novel like Children of Hurin. But instead it had various unfinished drafts and poems, all with different character names. Granted, Tolkien never finished the final version so Christopher was working with what he had. But I still think it would have been cool to present the finalized prose chapters and complete the story with the poem. Christopher could have written an in-universe transition between the two - "Here the text of Pengolodh the Wise breaks off and the final pages are lost to history. But the further tale of Beren and Luthien survives in the poetic Lay of Leithian, as recorded by the Noldorin loremasters."
Anyhow, I digress. The Fall of Gondolin has the structure I had been hoping for - a complete version of the story that stands on its own followed by analysis and alternate versions. I much prefer this approach.
So far, I've read the original tale and part of the later drafts. Other than a few names that were changed later (and a First Age cameo by Legolas!), the original tale is pretty close to the final version and holds up well as a story in its own right. It has way more detail about Gondolin, its various noble houses, and their coats of arms than other versions. It also has some really cool scenes and imagery that I had forgotten about. For instance, when the city is invaded, Idril puts on chainmail and insists on carrying a sword, despite the protests of her guards. No wilting waif is our Ms. Silverfoot! I also loved the battle between Tuor and Meglin the Dark Elf. It's more detailed than other versions, with Meglin trying to stab young Earendel but being thwarted by his mail shirt, Tuor breaking Meglin's arm, and of course the infamous scene of Meglin being tossed from the walls of the city. He bounces off the rocks a few times and plunges into the fire. Yeesh.
Overall, I like the treatment of this more than Beren and Luthien. I was a bit disappointed by that book. I had hoped it would be presented as a standalone novel like Children of Hurin. But instead it had various unfinished drafts and poems, all with different character names. Granted, Tolkien never finished the final version so Christopher was working with what he had. But I still think it would have been cool to present the finalized prose chapters and complete the story with the poem. Christopher could have written an in-universe transition between the two - "Here the text of Pengolodh the Wise breaks off and the final pages are lost to history. But the further tale of Beren and Luthien survives in the poetic Lay of Leithian, as recorded by the Noldorin loremasters."
Anyhow, I digress. The Fall of Gondolin has the structure I had been hoping for - a complete version of the story that stands on its own followed by analysis and alternate versions. I much prefer this approach.