The Fellowship of the Ring: Book One in The Lord of the Rings Trilogy

There are a number of Lord of the Rings recordings out there, including a superb dramatization by the BBC. But there is only ONE set of unabridged recordings of the trilogy -- from Recorded Books and read by Rob Inglis. For many years, I've treasured the set of these recordings I have on compact disc. But never before now have I been able to find them for audio download -- until now!!! Words cannot express how thrilled I am to listen to the Lord of the Rings on my iPod (and on my Kindle too!) Audible members who have never yet heard the saga read in its entirety, you are in for a very special treat indeed! In a whole new way will you enjoy the story you've read years ago and have seen transformed into the motion pictures. It'll be almost as if you're experiencing the story for the very first time.

This is the best! Rob Ingles is excellent. His performance is as if JRR Tolkien was reading it himself.

Enjoyed the entire story and narration.

I have listened to The Hobbitt - also highly recommend,

This book marks the beginning of Frodo the Hobbit's quest to resolve the question of the Ring of Power which hangs over the fate of Middle Earth like a menacing cloud. I read this book over 40 years ago and it has headed up (together with the others in the trilogy) my list of books to be stranded on a desert island with ever since.

Although the fantasy genre predates The Lord of the Rings, it is no exaggeration to say that Tolkien's books inspired the tsunami of fantasy fiction which is with us even today. More than once, I have read some particularly dreadful specimen of the same and thought to myself that J.R.R. Tolkien has a lot to answer for (tongue-in-cheek) but his genius speaks for itself and is recognized today. When I was in college, stating that The Lord of the Rings was a great work of fiction elicited (from my English professors) stares of incomprehension from some and mild contempt from others. As Norman Cantor has remarked, however, it is the reading public that determines whether a work is great or not and by that standard The Lord of the Rings is now a classic.

Rob Inglis is able to do the series full justice. Not only is he a superb narrator, but he can sing which is important in a work with such an emphasis on songs and music (not always the case.. sometimes I've cringed in sympathetic embarrassment as a narrator, competent in other respects, attempted to sing or chant his/her way through a song with dismal results).

In short, you can't go wrong with this series, particularly if you like stories about quests or knightly adventures. There's very little in the way of boy-girl romance however and no sex so readers who like plenty of that in their fiction may want to look elsewhere.

The audiobook doesn't let you skip or skim the songs (or the whole Tom Bombadil section); the result is that you experience the book as Tolkien intended it.

Rob Inglis's reading is superb on general principles - he distinguishes characters well and interprets them beautifully. But the best surprise is the authenticity and quality of his rendering of Tolkien's many songs. Heroic when that's appropriate; funny or moving or spiritual by turns, this is an effect you can't produce for yourself in a silent reading. (And Tolkien heard and authorized some of Inglis's tunes.)

Well, first, I would like to both thank Audible for finally making this available, and alternately curse them for doing so at a time when they're making so many other great books available (Gardens of the Moon, for one). Needless to say, all others will have to wait until I'm done listening to these.
Second, I have to admit that I've just started listening to it, but so far, I must say that I'm entirely impressed by Mr. Inglis' reading. Nice, clear voice, good differentiation of the different characters.
Third, like many others, I read "The Hobbit" and this trilogy as a pre-teenager about 30 years ago. I loved it. I honestly don't think you can consider yourself a fantasy fan if you haven't read these books. They are, simply put, amazing. I eagerly watched all the movies and was very impressed with those as well. Except for "The Hobbit", of course. Now, I finally have a chance to listen to them in audio, and unabridged!
Again, thank you Audible... now, if you could just get "Memory, Sorrow, and Thorn" by Tad Williams, I'd be even happier!

I first read the LOTR Trilogy as a young teen, while I was home with a bad cold. My mother was in the middle of The Fellowship and wouldn't give it up (and who could blame her?), so I started with The Two Towers. Talk about confusion!! I highly recommend listening to them in order. The Trilogy is one of the top books on my Desert Island Reading List.
Many years later, I got this version of the audiobook on CD and played it to death. I loved the books and the movies, but hearing the stories really enhances the experience. I always felt these books were written to be read aloud. I have waited YEARS for Audible to add both the unabridged Trilogy and the Hobbit. Thank you Audible.

I know that Audible has been waiting for this book a long time in the US and it is worth the wait! The narration is excellent - including the singing - and Rob Inglis does a great job differentiating each character without becoming comical.

If you love the series then this is the version to get especially since it syncs with Kindle.

I have read all the books in this series many times, and have seen the movie versions several times.This recording hooked me with it's rich narration,and the story came alive.

I can't help having flashbacks to the movie as I read "The Fellowship of the Ring." The audio book is so much better then the film. I cannot get enough with the singing of the reader. It's a bit annoying, but it's apart of the tale that I enjoy. I can't wait to finish off the series and share the trilogy to my family for many years to come. It's one of those books that never get dated. After reading The Hobbit and The Fellowship of the Ring, I'm really looking forward to the next two additions in the trilogy to find out what they missed in the movies.

To now listen to this 3 book set without having to keep track of my CD's is a true treat. The written Rings story has a depth of character, culture, history and interwoven plots that the movie version -- however visually wonderful -- just cannot provide. It is good to drop back into the richness of Middle Earth. I have always felt this reader is well suited to the story.