For over fifty years J.R.R. Tolkien's epic novel The Lord of the Rings has been widely available in libraries and bookstores around the world, and many different translations of the work now exist. Curiously, however, the novel's publishers have never to date produced an electronic text of Tolkien's most famous work. Doubtless this is an effort on their part to discourage any possible piracy. Still, many people on the Internet have been actively seeking e-texts of Tolkien's work for their own (usually unstated) purposes.

Now, however, the people at rec.arts.books.tolkien have taken on the arduous task of bringing such epic fantasy as this to the Internet! By working together, drinking too much coffee and typing into the wee hours of the night, distinguished authorities of Tolkien's works have tackled the great task of creating a downloadable electronic text for this masterwork of epic proportions! Now those who refuse to purchase J.R.R. Tolkien's epic novel The Lord of the Rings in print form, but are seeking an electronic copy to download instead, can get exactly what they deserve!

Feel free to begin reading, or downloading, this epic work as you please! But before you do so, please remember to send your royalty check for thirty-five dollars directly to the authorized Lord of the Rings publisher nearest you.

Volume One: THE FELONSHIP OF THE RING

• A Long-Expected Parting - transcribed by O. Sharp
• The Shadow Of The Pest - transcribed by Öjevind Lång
• Three Is Company - transcribed by Steuard Jensen
• A Short Cut To Mushrooms - transcribed by Kent Butler
• A Conspiracy Undressed - transcribed by Bruce
• The Old Forest - transcribed by Conrad Dunkerson
• In The House Of Tom Bombadil - transcribed by Aris Katsaris
• Fog On The Barrow-Downs - transcribed by Prembone
• At The Sign Of The Prancing Pony - transcribed by David Sulger
• Strider - transcribed by Creole
• A Stab In The Back - transcribed by O. Sharp
• Flight To The Ford - transcribed by Öjevind Lång

• Many Margaritas - transcribed by PaulB
• The Council Of El Rond - transcribed by Carl Blondin
• The Ring Goes South - transcribed by Raven
• A Journey In The Dark - transcribed by Steuard Jensen
• The Bridge Of Kringle-Dum - transcribed by Kent Butler
• Lothlorien - transcribed by Dany Belinfante
• The Birdbath Of Galadriel - transcribed by David Salo
• Fare Badly, Lorien - transcribed by Karim Arain
• The Grey Liver - transcribed by William H. Hsu
• The Berating Of The Fellowship - transcribed by O. Sharp

Volume Two: THE TWO TOWELS

• The Departure Of Boromir™ - transcribed by Abigail Brady
• The Raiders Of Rohan - transcribed by Morgil
• The Uruk-Hai - transcribed by Tribimat
• Steelbeard - transcribed by Raven
• The Right, Wider - transcribed by Mithrigil
• The King Of The Golden Hall - transcribed by Sir Confused-a-lot
• Deem's Help - transcribed by Bruce
• The Road To Isengard - transcribed by David Sulger
• Flopsy And Jackson - transcribed by Menelvagor
• The Voice Of Aruman - transcribed by O. Sharp
• The Palantarium - transcribed by Douglas Henderson

• The Untaming Of The Shrewd - transcribed by Prembone
• The Passage Of The Marshes - transcribed by Raven
• The Back Gate Is Hosed - transcribed by William H. Hsu
• The Pugilist - transcribed by Steuard Jensen
• Of Herbs And Stoned Hobbits - transcribed by Morgil Blackhope and Menelvagor
• The West Under The Window - transcribed by Aris Katsaris
• The Freudian Pool - transcribed by Jabba McJabba
• Drunken At The Cross-Roads - transcribed by Morgil Blackhope and Count Menelvagor
• A Night In Disgiliath - transcribed by Öjevind Lång
• The Eagle - transcribed by Gimlet
• The Stars Of Cirith Ungallant - transcribed by Tamfiiris
• Shelob's Nightclub - transcribed by Count Menelvagor
• The Very Long Night Of Samwise Gamgee - transcribed by David Salo

Volume Three: THE RETURN OF THE KINK

• Minas Tirith™ - transcribed by Steuard Jensen
• The Passing Of The Gay Company - transcribed by Öjevind Lång
• The Blockbuster Of Rohan - transcribed by David M. McCandless
• SPECIAL REPORT: SIEGE OF GONDOR™ - transcribed by David Salo
• The Ride Of The Rohirrim - transcribed by Jonathan Stefanovic
• The Battle Of The Cowboy's Field - transcribed by Carl Blondin
• The Tribunal Of Denethor™ - transcribed by David Sulger
• The Housing Of Heels - transcribed by O. Sharp
• The Last Debate (about whether or not Balrogs have wings) - transcribed by Morgil Blackhope
• The Back Orifice Opens - transcribed by Raven

• The Trains Of Cirith Ungallant - transcribed by Count Menelvagor
• The Land Of Mojo - transcribed by Banazir the Jedi Hobbit
• Mount Viagra - transcribed by Steuard Jensen
• Fields Of Golden And Green - transcribed by Tamfiiris Gloruloke
• The Queen, Or The King? - transcribed by Sir Confused-a-lot
• Make Way For Roglings - transcribed by David Salo
• Bound To Go Homewards - transcribed by Carl Blondin
• The Scorching Of The Shire - transcribed by O. Sharp
• The Grey Has-Beens - transcribed by David Salo and Count Menelvagor

• Appendix A: Annals Of The Kings And Tyrants
  • 1. Mermen Of Atlantis - transcribed by David Salo and Count Menelvagor
  • 2. The House of Yorl - not completed at all
  • 3. The Dwarks - still pretty thoroughly non-completed
• Appendix B: The Tail Of Years - not exactly finished
• Appendix C: Family Trees - missing a few small elements
• Appendix D: The Shire Calendar - just a little bit unstarted
• Appendix E: Writing And Spelling
  • 1. Pronunciation Of Words And Names - you didn't really want to read it
  • 2. Writing - it was pretty dry reading anyway
• Appendix F: The Appendix With No Name
  • 1. Languages And People Of The Adolescent Age - transcribed by China Blue Wïzards Cult
  • 2. On Translation - transcribed by China Blue Wïzards Cult

• Wriggles In The Dark - transcribed by David Salo
• The Life Cycle Of The Balrog - transcribed by David Salo
• Faramir In Disgiliath - transcribed by David Salo
• Gandalf's Wake:
  • Part One: Gandalf and the Kine of Araw - transcribed by David Salo
  • Part Two: A Yule Visit to Bag End - transcribed by Abigail Brady
  • Part Seven: Lost Tales of Elendil - transcribed by O. Sharp
• The Original Draft Of Book IV:
  • The Taming Of Sméagol - transcribed by Wide China Blue Yonder
  • The Passage Of The Marshes - transcribed by All the Tea in China Blue
  • The Black Gateway Closes - transcribed by China Blue O'Brien 2
  • Of Herbs And Stewed White Rabbit - transcribed by China Blue O'Brien 2
  • Window On The West (An Expository Chapter) - transcribed by China Blue Screen of Death
  • The Forbidden Pool Hall - transcribed by China Blue O'Brien 2
  • Journey Down The Sixty-Sixth Road To The Cross-Roads - transcribed by China Blue Screen of Death
  • The Stairs Of Cirith Ungallant - transcribed by Wide China Blue Yonder
  • Steinlob's Lair - transcribed by All the Tea in China Blue
  • The Choices Of Master Samwise - transcribed by China Blue Board

Many thanks are due to the noble and erudite Steuard Jensen, and the learned and wise Öjevind Lång, who have both assumed the wild task of administrating this project - a job not unlike herding rabid cats. Mr. Jensen's administrative web-pages have provided great aid to this ambitious and stalwart undertaking.

The educated and altogether too clever David Salo has graciously taken the time to contribute maps as well as other forms of fiendish cleverness to keep us thinking. As well, the honourable Robert Brady maintained a list of names as given in the E-text as an aid to contributors. Thanks are due to Mr. Brady and Mr. Salo for these noble uses of their time.

For those who think this is the greatest literary work in all of Western history and want nothing more than to share it with the rest of the world, please read this disclaimer first, and take particular note of the fifth paragraph.

To Those Who Are Concerned: Before reporting this site to the Tolkien Estate as a flagrant violation of copyright, please be sure to read a chapter or two.