Myth & Magic, The Art of John Howe

If only we could give standing ovation for a book, this book is certainly one that deserves it. It is so alive with fantasies and imaginations that only an artist like John Howe can create. He is the man behind all the illustrations for J.R.R. Tolkien's books: The Hobbit, The Lord of the Rings, The Silmarilion and The History of Middle-earth. He is the one who responsible for the interpretations from Tolkien's books into reality, such as Gandalf and the world of Middle-earth itself. John Howe's works are so breathtaking that Peter Jackson, the director of The Lord of the Rings movies and The Hobbit, depended on his views to create the characters from the books. 

This book, Myth & Magic, The Arts of John Howe, is filled with the earliest works and latest works of John Howe, beginning when he was a student through his works for Peter Jackson's movies. His illustrations are so intricate and breathtaking that when I saw the picture of The Siege of Gondor, I could feel how terrible the war was. Peter Jackson gave some forewords for the book, speaking highly regard towards John Howe and his spectacular works. Inside the book, we can also find some notes from Sir Ian Mckellen talking about his experience when he was chosen to play Gandalf the Grey. He wrote,

"I didn't know quite what to expect but they were all clear enough - they consulted Tolkien's descriptions and they propped John Howe's illustration of Gandalf the Grey by the mirror. The author and his acclaimed illustrator were their guides and only when I looked like the John Howe's Gandalf, were they satisfied that I could start to play Tolkien's."

For those who call them selves fans of Tolkien's books, this book is the perfect accompaniment to broaden your imaginations of Tolkien's world full of Hobbits, Elves, dwarves, orcs and dragons.