The Two Towers

[Editor's Note: The following is a combined review with THE RETURN OF THE KING.]--There is something incongruous about American voices in ancient Britain (or to be precise, Middle-earth). Nonetheless, these American productions of the Tolkien classics--originally broadcast on NPR Playhouse--are well worth hearing. While not as elaborate as the BBC production (which featured Ian Holm), this adaptation is more accessible to a wider audience. Gail Chugg, who also plays the character of Gollum, narrates the story with an easy storyteller's style. James Arrington reads the part of Frodo Baggins, the Hobbit bearing the burden of a ring of great power. Bernard Mayes portrays the wizard Gandalf with a homespun flourish. S.E.S. (c) AudioFile 2002, Portland, Maine

If the first LORD OF THE RINGS movie left you wanting more, there's no need to wait until the next film hits theaters in December. Rob Inglis's gritty reading of the second part of Tolkien's epic trilogy neatly picks up where the first film and book left off, as our hobbit heroes, Frodo and Sam, seek to destroy the infamous Ring of Power. Those who experienced the first part of the trilogy via the movie will have to adjust to the more lyrical storytelling style and moderate pace of Tolkien's text (as well as many breaks for song). Inglis generally keeps things moving along nicely and, with his variety of well-conceived voices and characterizations, quite entertainingly. J.P.M. (c) AudioFile 2002, Portland, Maine

It's never inspiring when a publisher hauls out a fossilized recording to capitalize on the popularity of a film. But one can hardly make that accusation after listening to this 1981 BBC dramatization of Tolkien's THE TWO TOWERS, in which Frodo, Sam, and his allies continue their mission to bring the Ring of Power to Mordor. Even for those who are ambivalent about fantasy literature, this is first-class audio drama that starts with a smart adaptation of the text, adds an excellent British cast (albeit an anonymous one, given the absence of liner notes), and rounds it off with fine production quality. The role of Gollum is particularly well played, sounding appropriately vile and pitiful, and demonstrating that Tolkien can be dramatized without Hollywood special effects. D.B. (c) AudioFile 2002, Portland, Maine