Tolkien ebooks?

AlexBell · 07-25-2008, 11:28 PM

I'm amazed that I can't find the Lord of the Rings or the Hobbit as an ebook. There are ebooks about them - e.g. CliffsNotes - but not the books themselves.

Have I missed anything? Google searches haven't found anything.

Regards, Alex

NatCh · 07-25-2008, 11:57 PM

The only thing you've likely missed is that the Tolkien Estate is evidently fundamentally opposed to e-books.

Same as J. K. Rowling.

DMcCunney · 07-26-2008, 12:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AlexBell

I'm amazed that I can't find the Lord of the Rings or the Hobbit as an ebook. There are ebooks about them - e.g. CliffsNotes - but not the books themselves.

Have I missed anything? Google searches haven't found anything.

You haven't missed anything. There are no legitimate copies of Tolkien in ebook format. The estate has never licensed the work in ebook form.
______
Dennis

AlexBell · 07-26-2008, 07:10 AM

Thanks to you both - I didn't know that. Is there documentation anywhere about this?

Regards, Alex

JSWolf · 07-26-2008, 07:46 AM

You'll just have to wait till the copyrights to all the books expires.

SeaWolf · 07-26-2008, 10:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JSWolf

You'll just have to wait till the copyrights to all the books expires.

Or some unscrupulous individual OCRs the text and puts it out there somewhere...

AJ Starr · 07-26-2008, 10:37 AM

They may not be out in ebook, but they are out in Audio books. As an alternative.

astra · 07-27-2008, 10:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SeaWolf

Or some unscrupulous individual OCRs the text and puts it out there somewhere...

Most of Tolkien works are already out there (i.e. somewhere

)...

DMcCunney · 07-27-2008, 10:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by astra

Most of Tolkien works are already out there (i.e. somewhere

)...

Yes, in paper. Not electronic unless you really want to deal with a darknet copy.

Personally, I don't. I have hardcovers I treasure.
______
Dennis

astra · 07-27-2008, 10:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DMcCunney

Yes, in paper. Not electronic unless you really want to deal with a darknet copy.

Personally, I don't. I have hardcovers I treasure.
______
Dennis

Dennis did you read previous posts well?

In case you didn't I will clarify:

AlexBell: I'm amazed that I can't find the Lord of the Rings or the Hobbit as an ebook
JSWolf: You'll just have to wait till the copyrights to all the books expires.
SeaWolf: Or some unscrupulous individual OCRs the text and puts it out there somewhere...(obviously it means illegal copies i.e. DARKNET)
astra: Most of Tolkien works are already out there (i.e. somewhere

)...

(this reply refers to ebook versions OCRed by some unscurpulous individual and uploaded somewhere out there)

........
As a side note: I have special editions and some of them on india paper and I treasure these books more than any other books in my collection.

SeaWolf · 07-27-2008, 11:35 AM

I have to confess that I've never read them. I have a copy of the trilogy, in a single, voluminous tome that sits menacingly on my bookshelf. Every time I've gone to read I've picked it up and the sheer size and weight of it has scared me off. Someday though...

daffy4u · 07-27-2008, 11:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by astra

Dennis did you read previous posts well?

In case you didn't I will clarify:

Not that he needs defending but Dennis did say in post #3:

Quote:

You haven't missed anything. There are no legitimate copies of Tolkien in ebook format. The estate has never licensed the work in ebook form.

astra · 07-27-2008, 11:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by daffy4u

Not that he needs defending but Dennis did say in post #3:

Yes he said that. But he entirely missed what I said.

DMcCunney · 07-27-2008, 12:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SeaWolf

I have to confess that I've never read them. I have a copy of the trilogy, in a single, voluminous tome that sits menacingly on my bookshelf. Every time I've gone to read I've picked it up and the sheer size and weight of it has scared me off. Someday though...

It took me a bit of doing when I first read LoTR many years ago. It starts slowly, and I had to push myself through the first hundred pages or so. After that, the pace picked up, and I finished the trilogy in a weekend. I've re-read it one a year or so since, and I find new things each time.

I'm one of the folks who spent as much time in the appendices as I did in the books, since I wanted the back story hinted at in the books, and I happily bought and read the Silmarillion to get it, as well as The Unfinished Tales and various of the annotated manuscripts his son has been producing.

I could even do passable Quenya calligraphy once upon a time, though I've quite lost my hand since.
______
Dennis

astra · 07-27-2008, 12:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DMcCunney

I could even do passable Quenya calligraphy once upon a time, though I've quite lost my hand since.
______
Dennis

Ehm. I retreat. We have a real connoisseur here.
I have read LotR about 4 or 5 times. The Silmarillion, The Hobbit and Unfinished Tales only once. Didn't read anything else yet...

07-25-2008, 11:28 PM	#1
AlexBell Wizard Posts: 3,413 Karma: 13369310 Join Date: May 2008 Location: Launceston, Tasmania Device: Sony PRS T3, Kobo Glo, Kindle Touch, iPad, Samsung SB 2 tablet	Tolkien ebooks? I'm amazed that I can't find the Lord of the Rings or the Hobbit as an ebook. There are ebooks about them - e.g. CliffsNotes - but not the books themselves. Have I missed anything? Google searches haven't found anything. Regards, Alex

07-26-2008, 10:37 AM	#7
AJ Starr Guru Posts: 815 Karma: 1029784 Join Date: May 2008 Location: Nebraska, USA Device: PEZ, Color Libre, 2@Sony T1, Onyx i62HD	Audio They may not be out in ebook, but they are out in Audio books. As an alternative.

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07-25-2008, 11:57 PM	#2
NatCh Gizmologist Posts: 11,615 Karma: 929550 Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Republic of Texas Embassy at Jackson, TN Device: Pocketbook Touch HD3	The only thing you've likely missed is that the Tolkien Estate is evidently fundamentally opposed to e-books. Same as J. K. Rowling.

07-26-2008, 07:10 AM	#4
AlexBell Wizard Posts: 3,413 Karma: 13369310 Join Date: May 2008 Location: Launceston, Tasmania Device: Sony PRS T3, Kobo Glo, Kindle Touch, iPad, Samsung SB 2 tablet	Thanks to you both - I didn't know that. Is there documentation anywhere about this? Regards, Alex

07-26-2008, 07:46 AM	#5
JSWolf Resident Curmudgeon Posts: 76,310 Karma: 136006010 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Roslindale, Massachusetts Device: Kobo Libra 2, Kobo Aura H2O, PRS-650, PRS-T1, nook STR, PW3	You'll just have to wait till the copyrights to all the books expires.

07-27-2008, 11:35 AM	#11
SeaWolf Connoisseur Posts: 63 Karma: 65091 Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Sydney, Australia Device: Kindle Paperwhite WiFi	I have to confess that I've never read them. I have a copy of the trilogy, in a single, voluminous tome that sits menacingly on my bookshelf. Every time I've gone to read I've picked it up and the sheer size and weight of it has scared me off. Someday though...