Who is the best Middle Earthen creature in Middle Earth?

[tin]

I'd say the hobbits :)

[Adam]

I'm glad to see the Pukel men getting some well-deserved respect in this thread.

The Pukel men are one of the oldest cultures in Middle Earth. It would have been nice to see more of them.

[Josh]

That's what I'm saying! I would have loved to hear more about them!

[Bjarne]

Josh wrote: "That's what I'm saying! I would have loved to hear more about them!"

In a way I second that, BUT an essential aspect of them is to be secret, inapproacable, only accessible on their own terms. Therefore the Author cannot describe them much. And only from outside, what some rohirrim horseman or gondorian soldier have heard about them.

[Christopher]

I'm going to have to agree with Tom Bombadil. I think in addition to him, I would say Gandalf, but he's really not from Middle Earth, so I am going to have to go with the dwarves. I've always had a fascination with the fantasy dwarf.

Christopher Patterson
A Chance Beginning: Book One of the Shadow's Fire Trilogy

[[deleted user]]

I think my favorite creature(s) were the Ents. With their awesome eyes and long, sad history, they have always been the coolest characters in the books, at least to me.

[[deleted user]]

Bjarne wrote: "Ghân-buri-Ghân ?"

+1 to you! The living Pukel-men (remember they looked like the statues?) are a great choice.

[Shiv]

ENTS! No contest!

[Megan]

Faramir!! He's is so amazing! Honorable, a good leader, smart, Loved by everybody-except his father, and very romantic;) I also love the Elves and Hobbits.

[Jasmine]

Aragorn for sure!!! I LOVE HIM!! <3

[Daniel]

Ungoliant! So mighty, it fought Morgoth himself. So fearsome, it's descendant still makes passageways unusable. Also Ungoliant is a Mayar. I'd count it as a creature of Middle Earth, because it lived there briefly. Also its descendants roam Middle Earth, so it did have some influence.

[Matt]

Rachel wrote: "legolas was the best. if you say otherwise, you are nuts. just plain nuts. besides him, gandalf. everyone loves gandalf. he's epic."

So true haha

[[deleted user]]

Matt wrote: "Rachel wrote: "legolas was the best. if you say otherwise, you are nuts. just plain nuts. besides him, gandalf. everyone loves gandalf. he's epic."

So true haha"

Then I must be nuts! If I had to pick an elf, it would be Glorfindel, Gilgalad's bad-ass lieutenant. Anyone who can kill a Balrog (just like Gandalf) is the balls. My second favorite elf would of course be Galadriel. Gimli was right; she is the balls.

[Felix]

"The almighty SMAUG!"

[Mel]

Ents are the best for me. Close behind are the skin-changing people of Beorn. Tom Bombadil is also definitely an original, as are the hobbits.

[Liz]

I would say one of the best (most interesting) Middle-Earthen CREATURES are the orcs. They have such an interesting back story that seems terribly overlooked. They seem a little "frankenstein's monster" in the way that they were made to be monsters and it almost wasn't their fault. Granted, they are still nasty orcses.

If we are talking about characters (which it seems like people are), it would be a tie between so many that it's just ridiculous. I think one of Tolkein's best qualities is that each character had their own unique strengths and weaknesses. Boromir has always been one of my favorites.

[[deleted user]]

Liz wrote: "I would say one of the best (most interesting) Middle-Earthen CREATURES are the orcs. They have such an interesting back story that seems terribly overlooked. They seem a little "frankenstein's mon..."

Liz, I was never a fan of Boromir. He reminded me of too many "jock"-type idiots I met in high school and in the Army. His brother, now, he was impressive. He is the type of leader I could follow!

The orcs were cool, and I thought it was interesting that Tolkien chose to give them different cultures and depth. Many authors would have just made them monolithic monsters, but he wove real diversity into them, I thought.

[Abanoub]

The Elves

[Matt]

Keith wrote:

"Then I must be nuts! If I had to pick an elf, it would be Glorfindel, Gilgalad's bad-ass lieutenant. Anyone who can kill a Balrog (just like Gandalf) is the balls. My second favorite elf would of course be Galadriel. Gimli was right; she is the balls. "

I guess I do agree with that, and I like Galadriel especially when she psychs people out.

And also Beorn from The Hobbit, at least in the book, was cool

[Hannah]

The elves because they're unique. He defined elves in fantasy today.

[[deleted user]]

fatty lumpkin, tom bombadil's pony/best-named character in all of fiction forever

[Sarah]

I love the Wargs, the big tiger-wolf things that the Orcs ride.

[Sparrowlicious]

Maria wrote: "Eowin. One of the few strong female characters in the book and the only strong female character that is human. She is just so brave!"

Yes, yes, yes!

I also like the Hobbits a lot. Tolkien's unique fantasy race. :) (Dwarves and elves are from the Norse mythology.)

[Corné]

I definitely liked Finrod the best, but i also liked the dwarves. I was kind of dissapointed that there isn`t much to be found about the dwarves, while there is about the elves. It makes sense that the quendi are more renown, for they were the firstborn and of Eru`s thought, while the dwarves were made by Aulë, but I still would have liked to see more about them.

[Greta]

Bilbo!

[Craig]

Beorn the shape shifter. He's rather dour, but I like his affinity with nature and animals.

[Ruth]

Corné wrote: "I definitely liked Finrod the best, but i also liked the dwarves. I was kind of dissapointed that there isn`t much to be found about the dwarves, while there is about the elves. It makes sense that..."

There is more about the dwarves in The Silmarillion.

[[deleted user]]

Ruth wrote: "There is more about the dwarves in The Silmarillion."

Also in the indices (sic?) of the Trilogy. Reading about Dain and the Battle of Azanulbizar (or Nanduhirion for you elf-ophiles) always gives me a thrill. I want a red ax!

[Corné]

Ruth wrote: There is more about the Dwarfes in The Silmarillion"

I know, but, compared with all things said of the elves, there is very little known about the Hadhodrim. The main story line in the silmarillion is about the elves, and much less is said about the dwarves.

[Craig]

Corné wrote: "I definitely liked Finrod the best, but i also liked the dwarves. I was kind of dissapointed that there isn`t much to be found about the dwarves, while there is about the elves. It makes sense that..."

I read somewhere that the dwarves were based on the Jews and their language on Hebrew. I don't recall why though, or even if it was mentioned.

[Linda]

Craig wrote: "Corné wrote: "I definitely liked Finrod the best, but i also liked the dwarves. I was kind of dissapointed that there isn`t much to be found about the dwarves, while there is about the elves. It ma..."

Don't know about the language, but as for the cultural reference, the comparison comes from a people who wander the Earth because their homeland was taken from them/destroyed.

I read these years ago, as a teen, once each. Time for another re-read, but my set got passed down through the family!

I remember that as I was reading them, the most fascinating creatures were Gollum and the Ents, although the Elves were interesting, too. Once I'd seen the films, I had to say that the cast was very well-done, and the Elves especially--they all looked so delicate, and seemed to run across the hills with ease. But I'm separating the film from the books, so I'll stay with what I remember--Gollum and the Ents.

[Fruit_salad]

Cassie wrote: "I love the Hobbits because they represent innocence. They are positive, happy and see the goodness in the world.And because of that, they are protected by all others. My absolute favorite characte..."

I completely and utterly agree! Samwise Gamgee is definitely a perfect representation of innocence and happiness.

[Renee E]

For creatures I think it's the Ents and Shadowfax for me.

I've always wanted the full backstory for both.

[Megan]

An Elf, any Elf. A Greenwood Elf i think. :)

[Kevin]

Strider

[[deleted user]]

Kevin wrote: "Strider"

Kevin, good pick, but my favorite Human was always Faramir. While not Aragorn's equal (and he knew it!) I loved how he harkened back to the old days, just like Aragorn. He was brave and doughty, but also kind and learned and patient, unlike his brother. Just what the most impressive men of Westernese were supposed to be (and which Aragorn was to the hilt). Plus Eowyn was my girl, and the fact that Faramir was sweet on her (and healed her heart) made him the man to me!

[Liz]

I LOVE Faramir. He was so noble and good. I was pissed as all heck when Peter Jackson decided he needed yet another human to fall for the power of the ring and he totally destroyed Faramir's character. I also love the romance between Eowyn and Faramir. So much better than Arwen and Aragorn's. :) But I'm also one of those people who did not read all the appendices and such, so maybe I don't know too much about Aragorn's romance with Arwen.

[Renee E]

I didn't catch Faramir falling for the power of the Ring in the movie? I saw him tempted, but not falling.

[Liz]

He didn't necessarily "Fall" like Boromir did, but he decided the ring had to go back to his father so his father could use it's power. It just showed a weakness of character that Faramir didn't have in the book.

[Matt]

Keith wrote: Kevin, good pick, but my favorite Human was always Faramir. While not Aragorn's equal (and he knew it!) I loved how he harkened back to the old days, just like Aragorn. He was brave and doughty, but also kind and learned and patient, unlike his brother..."

I totally forgot about him! Faramir was awesome.

[Glenn]

Ruth wrote: "Loved Treebeard and the Ents. I also liked Gollum."

Fun fact. Most of Tolkiens creatures were based on interpretations of creatures mentioned in Early and Middle English works. The Ents were one of his few completely original creations.

[Kevin]

Keith wrote: "Kevin wrote: "Strider"

Kevin, good pick, but my favorite Human was always Faramir. While not Aragorn's equal (and he knew it!) I loved how he harkened back to the old days, just like Aragorn. He w..."

Sure, Faramir is the Sir Galahad of Middle Earth and all that. But Strider stomped the earth. He got it done.

[Mark]

The wizards. I'm fascinated by wizards.

[Elentarri]

Mark wrote: "The wizards. I'm fascinated by wizards."

There is a section in Unfinished Tales about the wizards if you haven't seen it yet. :)

[Mark]

Elentarri wrote: "Mark wrote: "The wizards. I'm fascinated by wizards."

There is a section in Unfinished Tales about the wizards if you haven't seen it yet. :)"

I didn't know that. I'll have to have a look. Thanks!

[Luke]

The Uruk-hai

[Vickie]

Shelob! I loved her - even named my gravity furnace after her!

Then the elves of Lothlorien. I loved how they sang about Gandalf.

[Jo]

Definitely Tom Bombadil ("the eldest creature in existence"), the river spirit Goldberry, and the Ents. They are the embodiment of the pure and pristine Middle Earth. *With a nod to the glorious Shadowfax, who may have the loveliest name in literature.

[Mohit]

Aragorn son of Arathorn !
He is humble and put others before himself but brave enough to ride the paths of the dead. Even the dark lord was scared of him.

[Craig]

Gotta go with Tom Bombadil. Somewhat enigmatic but definitely all-powerful.