# "The Children Of Hurin" By J.R.R. Tolkien to be finally published **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [March 29, 2007, 6:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-children-of-hurin-by-j-r-r-tolkien-to-be-finally-published/398012 "2007-03-29T18:15:54Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![furryman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/furryman/32/99_2.png) [@furryman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/furryman)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2007, 6:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-children-of-hurin-by-j-r-r-tolkien-to-be-finally-published/398012/1 "2007-03-29T18:15:54Z")
According to the article Christopher Tolkien is “finishing” it. I have nothing against Chris but I wish they’d hire Guy Gavriel Kay again. He did such a great job on the Silmarillion. ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2007, 6:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-children-of-hurin-by-j-r-r-tolkien-to-be-finally-published/398012/2 "2007-03-29T18:21:08Z")
Any estimates on the shipping date for it? Jim ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2007, 6:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-children-of-hurin-by-j-r-r-tolkien-to-be-finally-published/398012/3 "2007-03-29T18:48:40Z")
We had a thread on this before, where I said more or less the same thing… If this is going to be a complete work, of anywhere near the same quality of writing as the version of (parts of) the tale in _Unfinished Tales_, then this will be the greatest work of literature ever written. But I’m not holding my breath on it being the same quality of writing. Christopher isn’t his father, and even most of J. R. R.'s work doesn’t really compare to the quality of writing in those snippets. ---
**Author:** ![Baron\_Greenback](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/baron_greenback/32/48_2.png) [@Baron\_Greenback](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baron_Greenback)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2007, 7:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-children-of-hurin-by-j-r-r-tolkien-to-be-finally-published/398012/4 "2007-03-29T19:00:16Z")
[QUOTE=What Exit?] Any estimates on the shipping date for it? Jim [/QUOTE] [This event](http://www.theonering.net/perl/newsview/1/1174490730) in NYC isn’t too far away from you on April 17th **Jim**. ---
**Author:** ![Baron\_Greenback](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/baron_greenback/32/48_2.png) [@Baron\_Greenback](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baron_Greenback)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2007, 7:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-children-of-hurin-by-j-r-r-tolkien-to-be-finally-published/398012/5 "2007-03-29T19:04:57Z")
[QUOTE=Chronos] We had a thread on this before, where I said more or less the same thing… If this is going to be a complete work, of anywhere near the same quality of writing as the version of (parts of) the tale in _Unfinished Tales_, then this will be the greatest work of literature ever written. [/QUOTE] Don’t get my hopes up so much! If only there was more \*Of Tuor and the Fall of Gondolin \* material. The bits of that in UT are wonderful. ---
**Author:** ![Doug\_Bowe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/df788c/32.png) [@Doug\_Bowe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doug_Bowe)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2007, 7:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-children-of-hurin-by-j-r-r-tolkien-to-be-finally-published/398012/6 "2007-03-29T19:20:28Z")
According to the articles I’ve seen about this book, Chris has been “finishing” it for something like 30 years. He used all of his fathers old manuscripts around the story. Remember, JRRT wrote this story in and around 1918. He hadn’t thought of the Hobbit yet, let alone LOTR later. Heck, he probably hadn’t even worked on the letter Q for the Oxford English Dictionary yet, either. In any case I’ll watch other dopers buy the book and read what they have to say about it. If it turns out to be a masterpiece then spring for it. ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2007, 7:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-children-of-hurin-by-j-r-r-tolkien-to-be-finally-published/398012/7 "2007-03-29T19:52:58Z")
[QUOTE=Struan] [This event](http://www.theonering.net/perl/newsview/1/1174490730) in NYC isn’t too far away from you on April 17th **Jim**. [/QUOTE] I think I will pass on the event, but I will place my order at least. Jim