Reviews and Comments

This isn't an academic book and isn't very well written but it is very informative. It makes sensible comparisons to pagan, mythical and historical sources Tolkien drew on while also placing everything in the context of the overall Augustinian conception of evil that the stories and characters are centred on. There are several timelines which help to make sense of the sprawling characters and events in the books. An easy read with interesting illustrations throughout.

Not much here that hasn't been said before, but still enjoyable and no far-fetched notions.

I had assumed this would be a DNF at 5 or 10 percent but it really surprised me. While its field is fairly narrow this is some of the best Tolkien analysis I've ever read. I will be seeking out more by this author. The audiobook is well done despite numerous mispronunciations.

This book is unreadable and has nothing to offer. As Peter Sotos writes in the afterword that Brady objected to:

First off, you don't ask a child molester to write a book on serial killing. ... Because the child rapist and murderer and pornographer will obviously lie. ... He can adopt the dime-a-dozen serial killer front of puffed-up superiority, all from his tiny cell, and serve the typical cold dish of chest-beating mental clarity over personal introspection.