Looking to leave the world behind with a “Lord of the Rings” audiobook? This guide has all the info you need to find and listen to these extraordinary audiobooks.
The Lord of the Rings books rank high among the best-selling series of all time. The author, J.R.R. Tolkien, created a fully-imagined world with depth and scope that was never seen before in the literary world. Thanks to intriguing characters, the ever-fascinating battle between good and evil, and powerful descriptive passages, many readers never wish to leave Middle-earth.
Listening to these mind-blowing novels instead of reading them adds an appealing auditory element and creates a profoundly captivating experience. Keep reading to find out how you can listen to all “The Lord of the Rings” audiobooks.
What books are in ‘The Lord of the Rings’ series?
Many readers are familiar with the Lord of the Rings trilogy. After all, these books were the first in the series to be adapted for the big screen. The award-winning movies directed by Peter Jackson were a hit at the box office and received universal acclaim.
However, Tolkien started his Middle-earth adventure with another book, “The Hobbit.” In addition, the series contains several fictional stories that expand the Middle-earth lore and explore other fascinating characters.
So, let’s explore all the titles in the Lord of the Rings series.
1. The Hobbit (1937)
“The Hobbit” is the prelude to the Lord of the Rings trilogy. This book follows a hobbit named Bilbo Baggins, who is whisked away on an adventure through Middle-earth by a wizard named Gandalf. On his journey, he meets a frightening creature known as Gollum and encounters the One Ring.
2. The Fellowship of the Ring (1954)
“The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring” is the epic book that started the global Tolkien craze. It follows Bilbo’s cousin Frodo Baggins who leads a peaceful life in a sleepy village known as the Shire before being entrusted with the One Ring. After that, he must leave his home and face a dangerous journey into Mordor, the realm of the Dark Lord Sauron. His goal is to reach Mount Doom and destroy the Ring.
3. The Two Towers (1954)
“The Two Towers” is the second book in the Lord of the Rings trilogy. It deals with the aftermath of Frodo’s failed mission. It introduces conflict among the Fellowship of the Ring caused by the seductive power of the Ring.
4. The Return of the King (1955)
“The Return of the King” is the final installment in the trilogy and is a triumphant close to this epic tale. It sees the Fellowship of the Ring reunite to face off against the seemingly never-ending armies of the Dark Lord.
5. The Silmarillion (1977)
“The Silmarillion” precedes “The Hobbit” and tells the story of the world’s creation. It follows the events of the First Age, in which some trilogy characters, such as Elrond and Galadriel, participated.
6. Unfinished Tales of Numenor and Middle-earth (1980)
This collection of stories and essays focuses on the lands of Middle-earth. One of the stories features the familiar character Gandalf and his lively account of sending the dwarves to Bilbo’s farewell party.
7. The Children of Húrin (2007)
“The Children of Húrin” is a tale of Middle-earth’s First Age that explores the war against the Dark Lord Morgoth.
8. Beren and Lúthien (2017)
This compilation book contains the stories about Beren, a mortal man, and Lúthien, an immortal elf, and their love.
9. The Fall of Gondolin (2018)
This story explores the fall of the city of Gondolin, resulting from a devastating attack by Morgoth with his Balrogs, dragons, and numberless Orcs.
How to listen to ‘Lord of the Rings’ audiobooks
Here are all the places where you can find the Lord of the Rings audiobooks.
Audible
Amazon’s Audible offers an impressive selection of unabridged LOTR audiobooks. Rob Inglis narrates these audiobooks, which fully engage the listener. Inglis even sings the trilogy’s songs and poems a cappella.
Toky Book
Toky Book offers the LOTR trilogy as told by Gollum’s actor, Andy Serkis. His sensational performance leaves the listeners wanting more, even after listening to the full unabridged versions.
Rakuten Kobo
Rakuten Kobo audiobooks allow you to completely immerse yourself in Middle-earth with a full-cast narration. The captivating music and sound effects further enhance the already magical atmosphere.
Audiobook Store
On Audiobook Store, you can find the unabridged LOTR versions narrated by Andy Serkis. However, you can also find dramatized versions of the recorded books for listeners who prefer shorter audiobooks.
Chirp
On Chirp, you can find the complete LOTR audiobook series. This site offers a unique experience as it features an abridged full-cast performance of the entirety of the series.
Speechify – The text to speech software for experiencing books in new ways
The interest in J.R.R. Tolkien’s epic tale isn’t showing any signs of slowing down, with the 2022 TV series “The Rings of Power” bringing in massive audiences. If you’re also constantly searching for new ways to experience your favorite books, consider downloading Speechify.
Speechify is a text to speech (TTS) app that transforms any e-book into an audiobook. With plenty of natural-sounding voices, Speechify allows you to create your own rendition of LOTR audiobooks. In addition to choosing the voice, you can change the pitch and the reading speed for a highly personalized listening experience.
Speechify also features optical character recognition (OCR) functionality that extracts text from paper books and converts it into audio. This means you can dramatize even your physical versions of the LOTR books.
Start exploring the fantastic world of audiobooks with Speechify by downloading the app for free today.
FAQ
Who narrates the Lord of the Rings audiobooks?
Depending on the version you choose, the narrator of the audiobooks will be Rob Inglis or Andy Serkis.
How many hours are the Lord of the Rings audiobooks?
The unabridged audiobook version of the Lord of the Rings trilogy is 54 hours long. The surrounding tales add another 70 hours to the tally.
Is LOTR free on Audible?
The LOTR books are free on Audible if you have an Audible Premium Plus membership. Otherwise, you can get some of them for free during the free trial.
Is Rob Inglis a good narrator?
Rob Inglis is a fantastic narrator with a distinct and believable voice.
What is ‘The Lord of the Rings’ about?
The Lord of the Rings is the epic saga of a group of unexpected heroes who set forth to destroy the One Ring and save their world from evil.
What is the difference between the books and the movies?
There are many differences between the LOTR books and the movies. The most significant ones concern the timeline of events and the characters’ age and personality traits.
What is the theme of ‘Lord of the Rings’?
Lord of the Rings explores the themes of friendship, the battle between good and evil, the danger of power, death and immortality, fate and free will, and various aspects of Christianity.
What languages is LOTR in?
Tolkien wrote LOTR in English. However, the prolific author also dreamed up dozens of languages and dialects for the Middle-earth inhabitants.
