Book description
The surprising and illuminating look at how Tolkien's love of science and natural history shaped the creation of his Middle Earth, from its flora and fauna to its landscapes.The world J.R.R. Tolkien created is one of the most beloved in all of literature, and continues to capture hearts and imaginations around the world. From Oxford to ComiCon, the Middle Earth is analyzed and interpreted through a multitude of perspectives. But one essential facet of Tolkien and his Middle Earth has been overlooked: science. This great writer, creator of worlds and unforgettable character, and inventor of language was also a scientific autodidact, with an innate interest and grasp of botany, paleontologist and geologist, with additional passions for archeology and chemistry. Tolkien was an acute observer of flora and fauna and mined the minds of his scientific friends about ocean currents and volcanoes. It is these layers science that give his imaginary universe—and the creatures and characters that inhabit it—such concreteness. Within this gorgeously illustrated edition, a range of scientists—from astrophysicists to physicians, botanists to volcanologists—explore Tolkien’s novels, poems, and letters to reveal their fascinating scientific roots. A rewarding combination of literary exploration and scientific discovery, The Science of Middle-earth reveals the hidden meaning of the Ring’s corruption, why Hobbits have big feet, the origins of the Dwarves, the animals which inspired the dragons, and even whether or not an Ent is possible. Enhanced by superb original drawings, this transportive work will delight both Tolkien fans and science lovers and inspire us to view both Middle Earth—and our own world—with fresh eyes.
Spicy Thunder
Listening to audiobooks has become my guilt-free indulgence, and I love it. Thank you for making literature more accessible, enjoyable, and immersive. This app is a game-changer! Every moment is an adventure with this app by my side. Its intuitive features and diverse format support ensure that my audiobook journey is seamless and exciting. 🌌🎧 Audiobook pleasure at its finest! This app's sleek design and efficient organization ensure that every story is accessible and delightful. 📚👌
Fire Queen
ListenBook has revolutionized my audio experience, making it both personalized and engaging. This audiobook app is an absolute lifesaver! It brings my favorite stories to life with unparalleled convenience. This app has made 'reading' more versatile and enjoyable than ever. 🎉📚 Rekindling my passion for books – this app has sparked a reading revolution in my daily life! 🔥📖 Tone adjustment is an innovative touch that adds a personal connection to the audiobook narration. It's like having a custom reading experience.
Cardinal Rebel
Every moment is a chance to explore new stories with this app. Its intuitive features and compatibility ensure my audiobook journey is seamless. 🌌🎧 The download options are versatile, making it a breeze to get my favorite audiobooks on the go.
Swedish Pixie
📚 Turning my phone into a portal of stories – this app's ease of use is remarkable! 📱💫 🚶♀️🌌 This app's functionality makes every walk an adventure – I'm immersed in stories as I explore the world around me. 🏞️📖 ListenBook has elevated my learning experience. I'm retaining more information than ever. A functional audiobook. It kept me entertained, but I wasn’t blown away. The narrator’s performance was competent, though some emotional scenes fell a bit flat.
Bourbon Mirage
This app's convenience and ease of use have transformed my screen time into productive learning sessions. This app's user-friendly interface has made audiobook listening a breeze, even for a tech novice like me. Effortlessly managing my audiobook collection – this app's functionality is a winner. I love the ability to share my progress with friends. It’s a fun feature.
Moon Orchid
This app's ease of use has made my daily tasks so much more enjoyable. Binaural audio processing is a godsend. My ears don't fatigue even during extended listening. The ability to adjust playback speed and volume is a game-changer for me.
Sun Washer
This app is my secret weapon for staying entertained during mundane tasks. 💡 This app truly understands the needs of audiobook enthusiasts – it delivers an effortless and enjoyable listening experience. 📚🎧
Ladybird
With ListenBook, I can keep track of my audiobook consumption and explore new content with ease. ListenBook's commitment to delivering an exceptional audiobook experience is evident in its thoughtful features and design. This app has made multitasking a breeze – I can listen while I work, cook, or exercise. The statistics feature in ListenBook provides valuable insights into my audiobook habits, helping me learn and grow. Drag and drop downloads are so convenient. No more messing around with complicated steps.
Onion King
I've fallen in love with genres I never thought I'd explore, all thanks to this app. Packed with useful features. My favorite audiobook app!
Skool
I'm impressed by the app's performance – it's stable, fast, and tailored for audiobook enthusiasts. ListenBook has enriched my life with a world of captivating stories and knowledge. It's not just an app; it's a portal to endless possibilities. I’ve tried many audiobook players, and this one is by far the best. The app is perfect for long walks. It keeps me company the whole time.
MythMaker
ListenBook Pro's noise reduction feature has made my dictaphone recordings much more comfortable to listen to. Thanks to ListenBook, downloading audiobooks has never been easier or more convenient.
Swampmasher
This app has rekindled my love for literature, and I'm spreading the word to everyone I know. This was a workmanlike audiobook that did the job without flair. The narration was clear and the pacing appropriate, though the delivery lacked some emotional depth. The production quality was acceptable with no major technical issues.
Saturnalia
Being able to adjust playback speed suits everyone's preferences – a thoughtful feature. With ListenBook, I can now enjoy my favorite audiobooks and speeches with the utmost comfort and convenience. Audiobook enjoyment redefined – this app's design focuses on the essentials. The app supports background playback, which is a must for me. ListenBook has completely changed how I enjoy audiobooks. The app is packed with features like customizable skip intervals, playback speed, and sleep timers. The interface is clean and easy to navigate. Five stars!
MythMaker
User-centric audiobook joy – this app's ease of use is a true marvel. The app's performance is top-notch. It's stable, responsive, and optimized for a seamless audiobook experience. Kudos to the developers! The app's ability to handle various audio formats is impressive. No more file conversions!
Mud Eye
This app has brought the magic of books back into my life. I love how this app fits seamlessly into my daily routine. The adjustable playback speed is a revelation. It's like having a personal audiobook narrator at my pace. ListenBook has become an essential part of my day, enhancing my commute and allowing me to enjoy audiobooks like never before.
Wiccan Trouble
This app is a true treasure for audiobook lovers – it's my go-to source for literary adventures! Perfect for listening to educational content. Highly recommend! ListenBook makes my commute enjoyable. The audio filters really enhance the listening experience. The audio filters make a noticeable difference. ListenBook provides an excellent listening experience.
Snapdragon
I've started reading more books than ever before, all thanks to this app. As an audiobook enthusiast, I'm in awe of ListenBook's advanced features. The ability to adjust the reader's voice tone is a unique and fun addition.
Celtic Charger
💼 Enhancing work-from-home productivity – audiobooks make even the most routine tasks a delight. 💻📖 ListenBook Pro's noise reduction feature is like a magic wand, transforming noisy environments into serene listening spaces.
Papa Smurf
Listening to audiobooks while cooking has made meal prep much more enjoyable. My audiobook collection has never looked better. Thank you, ListenBook!
Mirage
With this app, I can switch seamlessly between my iPhone and iPad, making my reading experience continuous. The app's compatibility with CarPlay and Apple Watch enhances my listening experience on the go. The app is perfect for road trips. It keeps me entertained for hours. The app is perfect for people who love to listen to books while commuting.
Playing a wide variety of audio formats
Works on all devices with iOS 13 and newer
Huge amount of features for a small price
Frequent updates to add new features and improve existing ones
Advanced playback controls
Live sound processing
Changing the timbre of the reader's voice and noise reduction
Translated into more than 20 languages
If you love listening to fiction audiobooks, ListenBook has features to make the process easier.
Edit book data: title, author, cover
Use equalizer to make the sound comfortable for you
Adjust the playback speed
Enjoy dark and light app themes
Supported formats: MP3, M4B, AWB, FLAC, OGG audio files and many more (must be DRM free)
Auto-Bookmarks make it easy to find your place
AirPlay support allows redirection of audio output.
VoiceOver support
Dark mode for night owls
Convenient bookmarking system helps you mark the most important places.
Unlimited bookmarks for each audiobook
Put your own cover on the wager
Share your audiobook with friends
Lock-screen control
Customise app with extensive options
Sleep timer with shake to reset, set custom notification sounds, and a few unique options
Auto rewind depending on paused time, customize rewind times to your liking
Removing background noise from recordings made in classrooms and meetings
Changing the timbre of the reader's voice for a better listening experience