[DCD]: Absolutely Agree with Paul! You have to read the Hobbit first to get the entire story & understand everything. No, no - for that you need to read
The Silmarillion first.
OK, just kidding. Mostly. Go ahead and read
The Hobbit, Angela. But what happens if you read it and then they
do make a movie of it? You'll be bespoilt.

Although, heck, you (and most oeveryone else now) already know that the nifty magic ring Bilbo finds is really the One Ring - that's probably the biggest spoiler of all, compared to how we all
used to experience the series. Still, the book should be fun.
[JM]: Do you think there is any chance of a live-action The Hobbit? With the success that the three Rings movies will achieve, you'd think they would want to continue to ride this gravy train. I may have spoken (well, written) too soon in my earlier response to this. See these articles:
http://filmforce.ign.com/articles/380/380092p2.html http://filmforce.ign.com/lotr/articles/375/375789p1.html PJ doesn't sound as opposed as I had heard, and there's certainly interest from elsewhere. It certainly
could happen. Then what? Expanded adaptations of legends from
The Silmarillion? Maybe for The History Channel.
[DCD]First of all let's not beat on Brooks. Why not?
I will agree its not LOTR ...though it really, really tries to be.
OK, I just read the first two, and it was really the first one in particular that was extensively patterned after LotR. The second was much more original (relatively that is) and I did enjoy them both - just never felt compelled to continue. I'm glad he's improved and still entertaining people though.
[ January 03, 2003: Message edited by: Jim Yingst ]