The Lord of the Rings question

The Complete Guide to Middle-Earth
It's basically a big dictionary of all things Middle Earth. I've found it to be invaluable when researching.

look up the Christopher Tolkien History of Middle Earth books (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Hist... gives a bare, un-annotated list, easier than linking all twelve books here at goodreads)

To me, books 4-9 were most interesting, showing JRRT's thought processes as he devised the world, tried out ideas he later discarded, drew and re-drew maps.

Tolkien:The Illustrated Encyclopaedia by David Day MacMillan, 1992
ISBN 0-02-031275-X

May be OOP, I bought in '92. Includes Chapters: Intro: Life and Works of Tolkien 1. History 2.Geography 3. Sociology 4. Natural History
5. Biography 3 indexes including Illustrators
279p. Answers questions like who is oldest person in Middle Earth
5 stars

I used to practically study and discuss all of Tokiens works with friends and the encyclopedia of Arda website was always excellent. http://www.glyphweb.com/arda/

If you have the patience and are willing to take the time, reading all 12 or 13 volumes of the History of Middle Earth is the best way to go. Begin with Unfinished Tales and go all the way through to The Children of Hurin.

There's the Silmarillion, but its mainly all the background and the mythos of Middle Earth. Still, I found it a good read for constructing all the stuff that's eluded to in the original trilogy. The last section is especially good because it explains all the rings, the ring wraiths, Numenor, and all the info from the first Ring War.

I've enjoyed using The Journeys Of Frodo by Barbara Strachey, though it may appear a little dated now in these days of CAD.

I have a book called A Tolkein Bestiary by David Day - lovely pictures and descriptions.

The Lord of the Rings: A Reader's Companion is an invaluable resource. Absolutely wonderful. The authors had contact with Christopher Tolkien, which also gives their work credibility.