Though it appeared shortly before publication of The Silmarillion, and so was inevitably superseded, this book deserves recognition as the first serious attempt to catalogue Tolkien's world. It is thorough and readable, and although occasionally inaccurate (e.g. in the genealogies of the Eldar and Edain), it avoids speculation and invention, and was, in its day, a very useful handbook to The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings. The decorated capital letters at the head of each section are beautifully drawn. MB 19-viii-2009 ( )

If you've ever read Tolkien, and yet don't consider yourself the Middle Earth version of a "trekkie," then like me, you've probably had difficulty telling Boromir from Faramir, or Balin from Dwalin. And where exactly is Rhovanton? Where the heck did the elves go after the war? How did Smeagol become that disgusting little freak Gollum?
If you have ever had issues keeping any of this information together in your head while reading Tolkien, I highly advise keeping the Tolkien Companion nearby whenever you find yourself immersed in the Middle Earth books. ( )