Cover of The Fall of Gondolin

The Fall of Gondolin

  • 1985 first published
  • 302 pages
  • ★ 3.6 (5 ratings)
  • 27 editions

The Fall of Gondolin is a 1985 epic fantasy and mythic fiction novel by J.R.R. Tolkien and Christopher Tolkien. It deals with elves, imaginary places, quests and good and evil.

Open Library readers give it an average of 3.6 out of 5 from 5 ratings, and 80 more have it on their want-to-read list. It has been published in 27 editions across 7 languages. It appeared on the New York Times Combined Print And E-Book Fiction bestseller list in 2018.

It runs to roughly 302 pages — 5–6 hours of reading at an average pace.

About The Fall of Gondolin

"In the Tale of The Fall of Gondolin are two of the greatest powers in the world. There is Morgoth of the uttermost evil, unseen in this story but ruling over a vast military power from his fortress of Angband. Deeply opposed to Morgoth is Ulmo, second in might only to Manwë, chief of the Valar: he is called the Lord of Waters, of all seas, lakes, and rivers under the sky. But he works in secret in Middle-earth to support the Noldor, the kindred of the Elves among whom were numbered Húrin and Túrin Turambar. Central to this enmity of the gods is the city of Gondolin, beautiful but undiscoverable. It was built and peopled by Noldorin Elves who, when they dwelt in Valinor, the land of the gods, rebelled against their rule and fled to Middle-earth. Turgon King of Gondolin is hated and feared above all his enemies by Morgoth, who seeks in vain to discover the marvellously hidden city, while the gods in Valinor in heated debate largely refuse to intervene in support of Ulmo's desires and designs. Into this world comes Tuor, cousin of Túrin, the instrument of Ulmo's designs. Guided unseen by him Tuor sets out from the land of his birth on the fearful journey to Gondolin, and in one of the most arresting moments in the history of Middle-earth the sea-god himself appears to him, rising out of the ocean in the midst of a storm.
Description from Open Library

Awards & lists

  • 📰New York Times bestseller list — Combined Print And E-Book Fiction, 2018

Themes, setting & tropes

Genres

Subjects

  • Middle earth, Imaginary place
  • Epic fantasy
  • British and irish fiction, Fictional works by one author
  • Middle Earth, Imaginary place
  • Elves
  • FICTION / Fantasy / Epic
  • FICTION / Fairy Tales, Folk Tales, Legends & Mythology
  • Imaginary places
  • Epic fiction
  • Quests
  • Good and evil

Quick answers

Who wrote The Fall of Gondolin?

The Fall of Gondolin was written by J.R.R. Tolkien and Christopher Tolkien and first published in 1985.

What genre is The Fall of Gondolin?

It is usually shelved as Epic Fantasy, Myth & Legend Fiction and Fae & Fairy Fiction.

How long is The Fall of Gondolin?

The median edition has 302 pages, about 5–6 hours of reading at 250 words per minute.

What books are similar to The Fall of Gondolin?

Readers who like it often enjoy Wicked, Homeland and The Sword of Shannara.

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