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The Return of the King is the final instalment in J. R. R. Tolkien’s epic fantasy novel: The Lord of the Rings. Summary of the Book Sauron has gathered his forces in Mordor. The world is up in chaos. Orthanc has fallen and Saruman has been driven out of Isengard. The Enemy is growing in power steadily, and his Nine Riders have taken to the skies, acquiring demonic steeds which grant them total control over the battlefield. Gondor is the last wall which stands between Sauron and his delusions of grandeur, however, even Gondor is poised for a great fall. Since the fall of Isildur, Gondor has been without a King, ruled by its Stewards. Denethor, the last of the Stewards has turned mad because of the death of his beloved son, Boromir. He treats his second son, Faramir, like a failure, and he constantly rebukes Gandalf for interfering with Gondor’s politics. However, Denethor’s greatest problem lies with one of his guests. Strider, the man named Aragorn, is the heir of Isildur, and the true King of Gondor. He has finally returned to reclaim his rightful throne. But Denethor is loath to hand over the throne to Isildur’s heir. Gandalf will do anything to rid Gondor of the foolish man, but there is little time. The Nine strike Gondor and despite its call for help, no one seems to be coming to its aid. There is a greater goal which Gandalf is eyeing. He must do all he can to keep Sauron’s eyes on Gondor, away from his own territory. For unknown to the Lidless Eye, two Hobbits are making their way into his land, seeking the fires of Mount Doom. There, they hope to destroy Sauron’s only hope of resurrection: the One Ring which he once forged to rule all of Middle-Earth. But what Gandalf does not know is that the Ring- bearer, Frodo, has been captured by the Orcs of Minas Morgul, and he will be taken before the Enemy, to be destroyed. The only one who can save Frodo is his loyal companion, Samwise Gamgee. But can Sam fight off the monstrous Orcs guarding Frodo’s body? And what of the half-insane Gollum who wants the One Ring for himself? About J. R. R. Tolkien John Ronald Reuel Tolkien was an English novelist, poet, philologist, and university professor. He is best remembered for The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings. The Lord of the Rings was adapted into an Academy Award-winning movie trilogy by Peter Jackson. The Hobbit is currently being adapted into a hit trilogy, of which two movies have been released and the third is due for release in 2014. Series Reading Order The Lord of the Rings is one complete book. This is the final part of the story which began in The Fellowship of the Ring and continued in The Two Towers.