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Miscellaneous Myth and Magic: The Art of John Howe $35.00 / Harper Collins / 2003 One of the most intriguing aspects of the Lord of the Rings trilogy is J.R.R. Tolkien's dedication to creating a realistic world. While this attention to detail brings readers back to Middle Earth again and again, it is also an inspiration to artists, who have used Tolkien's words to flesh out the Rings world. Among these artists, John Howe is one of the finest. Featuring 250 sketches and paintings, Myth and Magic is a luscious portfolio of Howe's work. A graduate of the Ecole des Arts Decoratifs, the illustrator learned his craft by studying artists such as Frank Frazetta and Barry Smith. Their influence on Howe is obvious, as he blends organic textures with mythic scenes. His drawings of castles, buildings, and other structures display a draftsman's eye while defying architectural imagination. With these qualities, it is no wonder that the producers of the Lord of the Rings films chose Howe as the conceptual artist for the film trilogy. LoTR fans will love seeing all of the artist's renderings in one collection, as well as scenes from medieval and mythic lore, and even from his own fables. His illustrations of creatures, both vile and magical, leave one gasping at their detailed anatomy. Likewise, his heroes capture the tension of battle and their determination for victory. The scenes Howe creates may not be real, but the realism behind them is enough to make viewers believe. No doubt, Myth and Magic will encourage readers to pick up Tolkien's tomes or other stories, so they can relive the scenes over and over again. --Katerie Prior

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