The Two Towers: Being the Second Part of The Lord of the Rings

The Two Towers is part II of J. R. R. Tolkien’s epic Lord of the Rings. The story is told in two sections, the first following the group after Frodo and Sam have struck out on their own. Aragon, Legolas and Gimli are searching for Merry and Pippin who had been kidnapped by orcs who struck down Boromir and spirited the Hobbits away. Gandalf makes his re-appearance, and there is a massive battle that the Ents help to turn in their favour. Merry and Pippin are found safe as they have been travelling in the company of the Ents after they managed to escape from the clutches of the orcs. As for Frodo and Sam they are on their perilous journey to Mordor. Along the way they capture the Gollum who agrees to guide them to a secret entrance, but the Gollum is drawn by the power of the Ring and cannot be fully trusted. Samwise, on the other hand shows great loyalty and love toward Frodo, and to my eyes emerges as a true hero.There are so many excellent characters that pass through the story during the course of The Two Towers, but I really need to comment on Gollum/Smeagol who is both treacherous and pitiful. He serves as a reminder of what can happen if one latches onto the power of the ring and as a contrast all the Hobbits are shown as the resourceful and courageous creatures that they are. I listened to this book as read and enhanced by Rob Inglis. This was a true cliff-hanger so I need to carry on with the next book quickly. Overall, The Two Towers advances the story and expands on the world of Middle Earth. The depth and scope of this book brings into focus the influence that it has had on all the fantasy novels that have followed. It truly deserves to be called a classic.

A classic fantasy tale written in the fifties. I enjoyed the last part best, the first part was good the middle seemed slow and because i listened to the audio, I had a hard time staying focused in the middle section. I also enjoyed the author's explanations following the book. I recommend reading The Hobbit first.

I have one problem with this book. Tolkien should have really altered perspectives instead of putting frodo and sam's story completely in the end. this is the only reason i dint finish it before. seriously, they keep walking and walking....right after all the action is over on the other side. wouldnt have been draggy if the stories were altered and if the timeline was followed instead of one side's story.

The Two Towers Is the second book in the series of the lord of the rings. In it the evil wizard Sauroun sends thousands of orcs out to attack Rohan. Then at the impenetrable fortress of helms deep they are defeated. The Ents destroy Isingaurd Sauron's fortress. Mean while Frodo and Sam have befrended the creature goloum as a guide. He leads them to a giant spider that golum wants them to be killed by so he could take the ring. The book ends with Frodo being captured.I thought this book is good because of the story. The book had a well defined plot. The reasons that I don't like this book is that it drones. There is too much detail and it seems to take all of the action out and replaces it with long detailed periods of walking, riding, and sailing. There are also too many flash backs from many different people so you get the same story twice. I also seemed to zone out for long sections and

Re reading after seeing the Peter Jackson films (which I love) and finding it far richer and more nuanced. These books stay with you...

The best fantasy series ever written. The second book picks up where the first left off, as the companions must continue their desperate quest. In this book, both the action and the fantasy aspects of the book come into play more, as we are introduced to more fantastic (and heroic) parts of Middle-Earth.

Ah, memories! Looking at the book now, not having read "The Hobbit" and "The Fellowship of the Ring" in over a decade, I dip into the book and wince a little. I like Tolkien's prose, still, but the dialogue strikes me as, uh, horrible. Oh, well.I didn't notice that the three or four times I read the book!That says something. I'm not sure what, though.

A fantasy classic. I wonder how many people who have seen and enjoyed the movies made it throught the books though... I imagine the books are most attractive to people who share some of Tolkien's passion for linguistics, European mythology, the Norse Sagas. Although I'm one of those, I stalled out in the second and third books the first two times I started the trilogy, and didn't really appreciate it until I read them as an adult (and, to be honest, I liked both the Silmarillion and the Hobbit better - the Hobbit was more fun, and the Silmarillion was more hardcore mythological.)

The saga continues. I have to admit there were times when I was reading Two Towers and I thought, "Wait. Didn't I just read this? Wasn't this in Fellowship of the Ring?" My advice would be to read the entire Lord of the Rings series straight through. That way you won't lose your place and confused with the details.At this point in the saga Frodo and crew are still traveling through the dangerous countryside on a journey to destroy the magic ring. Along the way they encounter Gandolph (who they thought was dead), trees that can walk, talk and see called Ents, the have a couple of skirmishes with bad guys and they trust creepy swamp creature, Gollum. We leave the happy hobbits as Frodo is being captured. Okay, so they're not so happy.

Once again I was pleasantly surprised by Tolkien's 'Lord of the Ring's book 'The Two Towers' ', unlike the film it is not as dark and grimy as I feared and the story and character's have really begun to grow on me (even Gollum, who I was happy to see was given a more substantial personality than the film allows). Of course I knew to expect a more sinister move into the story's plot but even so the language and style of the book remains exceedingly detailed and easy to follow (save a few made-up elvish words and remembering the different names of places).
Tolkien is, in my opinion, an exceedingly skilled storyteller and I am thoroughly enjoying his series of books that encompass the story of the Ring!
Even though I realise that it is very cheeky, I have even decided to postpone reading 'The Count of Monte Cristo, Dumas' so that I can finish the trilogy straight away, I just need to continue the adventurous journey for as long as it lasts! Listing Tolkien's books as either Literary or Classic fiction is an understatement, these books are timeless.

As with previous books in The Lord of the Rings series that I've read, there's not much more I can say about The Two Towers that hasn't been said before. It reads very much as the bridge between Fellowship and The Return of the King, and just that. Nothing else. I always get the impression that this volume could have been trimmed down a little, but I don't think it would carry the same scope at that point.

Amazing books that focus on humanity. What it means to be human and human nature. These books inlude all of them classical story themes, including good vs. evil, love, hope, god, morals, friendship, mortality, ect ect ect.

The story picks up immediately from the conclusion of the first book in the trilogy, focusing on Aragorn, Gimli, and Legolas at first. Aragorn runs to assist when he hears Boromir blowing his horn, but arrives too late: Boromir is dying, and the hobbits have been taken by orcs. Legolas and Gimli enter soon after, but Boromir is already dead. The trio are devastated. Their group is truly splintered, and they aren't even sure which hobbits were abducted. Careful investigation back at the campsite leads Aragorn to believe that at least Frodo, and probably Sam, made it across the river. Rather than giving up in defeat, they decide to try and free their taken friends as the best course of action, and leave Frodo to the path he chose to take alone. Several chapters cover their swift journey in pursuit, then the book cuts over to Pippin and Merry, who are alive but in a dark place. An orc battle party is no place for gentle hobbits, but they show their mettle and ingenuity in leaving signs for their friends, and finally breaking free and escaping into the woods. More action follows, as the hobbits meet the ents, Aragorn and company meet the Riders of Rohan, Gandalf rejoins the company and frees the leader of Rohan from his enchantment, and the ents are stirred to war. While the trees conquer Saruman, Arargorn and his friends join the Rohirrim to battle Saruman's forces. The triumphant conclusion of both battles, and their aftermath, end the first half of the novel. In the second portion, we return to Frodo and Sam, alone and en route to Mordor. They don't remain alone for long, though, as Gollum stops sneaking around and outright attacks them. Sam and Frodo subdue him; through a combination of coercion and appealing to his old nature, Frodo enlists his aid, and the hobbits decide to let Gollum lead them into Mordor, using the hidden routes only he knows. A majority of this narrative details their arduous journey through desolate lands, and the tension that continues to mount, as they near the center of evil, and trust Smeagol (Gollum's supposedly nicer split personality) when they know he is ultimately untrustworthy. There is a moment of respite when they meet Faramir, brother to Boromir and leader of a band of resistance fighters, and then the looming danger finally crashes upon them when Gollum delivers Frodo and Sam to the immense and evil Shelob, in the midst of orc territory. The first half of this book is possibly my favorite portion of the entire narrative. I love the three experienced fighters tracking down their hobbit friends, seeming so small and overlooked, but really forces of change and legend. I love the Ents! The way Gandalf is restored to his friends, and how Pippin and Merry reveal their inner heroes, are shining moments in the series. The second part of the book was less enticing to me. On the one hand, Tolkien did a great job of portraying the reality of a difficult trek into dangerous areas, and the feeling of oppression and suspense was constant. On the other hand, I was bored at times. How do you depict a long and boring walk without being boring? A challenge to every writer. The most interesting bits were when action broke up the monotonous walking and fear.

Finally, I have taken on the second part of the epic Lord of the Ring series. The Two Towers is full of action... for the first half. Seriously, I loved Chapter III with the Riders of Rohan, Treebeard, Denethor and his deep paranoiac depression brought on by the lies of Wormtongue, the battle of Helm's Deep, and the end of Isengard and Saruman's power grab. Really loved all of Chapter III.Chapter IV involves Frodo and Sam on their journey to Mount Doom... and that's about it. I mean, there's a lot of ground covered, but not a lot happens in my opinion. Frodo convinces Gollum to help them find a way into Mordor, and of course he has ulterior secret plans for his new "friends." The best part of this section of the book is the introduction of Faramir and his men. Faramir is one of the greatest men of Middle-Earth, one without a devious mind and ulterior motives. Making himself and Aragorn two of the few who can make that claim. This chapter also includes the creepiest villain in the series, Shelob.*shudders*Overall, as a second chapter to the trilogy, this one keeps everything moving to the ultimate climax, the war between the forces of good and the forces of evil. Sides are chosen, armies gathered, preparations made. Can't wait for the final book!

The quest to destroy the ring of power is continued in Tolkien's The Two Towers. In the very beggining of the book, the compan splits. Sam and Frodo go east to Mordor, Merry and Pippin go to Fangorn forest (not by their own choice though) and Legolas, Gimli and Aragorn pursue them, but go to Rohan instead of following them through Fangorn. The five of them eventually meet up again at Isengard. In the middle of the book, we switch from their story to Sam's and Frodo's. The character of Gollum is formerly introuduced in this part (finally!). Any fanstasy fan will love this book. I reccomend it to readers who loved the movies, of course. It's just as thrilling as it's cinema counterpart, and we all know that the books are always better anyway.

I found the first half of The Two Towers ("Book Three") to be very slow in places, and I really find reading about battles tedious. However, Book Four, focused on Frodo, Sam, and Semagol/Gollum was a great read. The interplay between the three, and the chance to really get to know Sam better, was fascinating. Gripping ending too.

Introduction of Eowyn, one of my favorite female characters from fantasy lit. What's not to love?

"Two Towers" still occupies a large parcel in my reader's heart, but I was troubled this time by a few things I never noticed before. To my mind, the narrative suffers when Aragorn & Co. are freed to run around without the troublesome hobbits slowing things down and mucking things up. The problem is, these guys just KICK TOO MUCH ASS -- whether it's Gandalf healing Theoden instantaneously, Aragorn reforging his legendary sword, or Gimli and Legolas running up their frag counts into the dozens at Helm's Deep, things just always seem to fall just the right way for the Fellowship, which hurts the suspense level somewhat, although, to be fair, I don't think nail-biting thrills were ever Tolkien's point. My complaint isn't limited to Aragorn's crew; isn't it a little off that Saruman, the wizard so powerful that he was able to subdue Gandalf, gets his shit ruined by a crowd of tree-men? What about the band of orcs that terrorized Rohan's entire countryside getting unceremoniously dispatched by a few Rohirrim? Everyone seems to be just laughing their merry way to tearing Sauron a new eye-socket. Frodo and Sam, meanwhile, have a bit tougher go of it. The dynamics between Frodo, Sam and Gollum, and their struggles to reach Mordor, keep "Two Towers" from devolving into a dry history. They don't encounter easily conquered obstacles; they blunder into real dangers. They must flee, find other ways around, and only occasionally directly confront danger, and sometimes they're even captured and defeated. Their weakness, the true key to the heart of this saga, is refreshing.

As Sauron's dark forces spread out from Mordor through the lands of Middle-earth, the fellowship forged to destroy the One Ring of Power is broken. Most of the fellowship's survivors race toward Isengard, where the growing strength of the renegade wizard Saruman threatens to leave a lush land in desolation. With huge armies building in preparation for the first great battles of the War of the Ring, the hobbits Merry and Pippin discover some unexpected allies. Meanwhile, Frodo Baggins and the stalwart Samwise Gamgee set off across the bleak lands bordering Mordor as they continue their efforts to return the One Ring to Mount Doom - encountering a most unlikely guide along the way.

Very exciting sequel (or just Book Two). I love the return of Gandalf, but the scenes of Helm's Deep have me crying every time.CMB

Easily my favorite of all Tolkein's books. He really expands Middle Earth as he follows the stories of each group of the fragmented Fellowship.

Oh, my word, this book is good. Even after over 20 readings, I never tire of it. It's been 17 years since I first read it, and still I love it.

The tone of this second part is different, at least in book three. The feel is more of an epic - the great deeds of men - somewhat stylized. Book four takes the reader back to Frodo and then the feel is a bit more homey although grim and desperate. I loved the Ents - they are wonderful! And despite his despicableness, there is a scene or two that made me feel empathy for Gollum, which gives the character a sense of being real. And I love Sam - he's so loyal and determined.

Beautiful book, and my personal favourite out of all of them.

best sequel ever

If you shall read but one series, let it be The Lord of the Rings.

This is the second part of the Lord of the Rings series. I love the book. New characters were brought into the book. I love the battles that take place in the book.

The story gets more complex. This one has the war of Helm's Deep, and you know things are going to get worse before they get better. The only thing I dont like about this is the split between what Sam and Frodo are doing, and the work of the rest of the Fellowship. But that is a piddling complaint.

It's hard to pick a favorite out of all of Tolkein's works, but The Two Towers would be one of the top ones. Each section has everything you want in a fantasy genre. This is just one of those series where you have to read it again as often as you can.

J.R.R Tolkien has used his powers once again. The curiosity of how he comes up with such detail, places, ideas, and characters, is endless. The book is filled with breath taking, imagery and use of all 5 senses just by reading. There is almost a sixth sense as the book brings you into the story, next to The Company, battling orcs, feeling every detail that Tolkien wrote. How did this story and potential come into his mind? Whatever happened, it had such a positive impact on all age readers. The fictional story, was about bravery, courage, teamwork, and hope. As the Company was dispersed, the three groups had to survive on their own. Merry and Pippin, Aragorn, Gimli, and Legolas, and Sam and Frodo. Throughout the "edge of your seat" excitement, some characters unfortunately are killed, while some, new and old are introduced. This book and series are highly influential and an excellent source of knowledge. I would highly recommend it to anyone over 12. It would be hard for kids under 12, since the words and language of the book are hard to piece together. This series is so far my favorite, it my not be the same for all, but once you read the first chapter, you might be in a trance of how interesting and adventurous the book is. That is, if you are up for an adventure.