The popular paperback edition of this fascinating collection of stories which continue the tales of The Lord of the Rings & The Silmarillion & contains an alternative version of The Children of Hurin Unfinished Tales is a collection of narratives ranging in time from the Elder Days of Middle-earth to the end of the War of the Ring & provides those who have read The Lord of the Rings with a whole collection of background & new stories from the twentieth century's most acclaimed popular author The book concentrates on the realm of Middle-earth & comprises such elements as Gandalf's lively account of how it was that he came to send the Dwarves to the celebrated party at Bag-End the emergence of the sea-god Ulmo before the eyes of Tuor on the coast of Beleriand & an exact description of the military organization of the Riders of Rohan Unfinished Tales also contains the only story about the long ages of Numenor before its downfall & all that is known about such matters as the Five Wizards the Palantiri & the legend of Amroth The tales were collated & edited by JRR Tolkien's son & literary heir Christopher Tolkien who provides a short commentary on each story helping the reader to fill in the gaps & put each story into the context of the rest of his father's writings