The Lord of the Rings and Middle-earth audiobooks in order

Two complete recordings are on sale side by side. Andy Serkis's Hobbit and Lord of the Rings came out in 2020-21 and his Silmarillion in 2023, and the store leads with them; the older Rob Inglis readings are still there, and he sings the songs rather than speaking them. The older Silmarillion is Martin Shaw's.

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J.R.R. TolkienNarrated by Andy Serkis (released 2020–23), or the older readings: Rob Inglis for The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings, Martin Shaw for The Silmarillion · 5 booksPhoto: Unknown photographer · Public domain · cropped, via Wikimedia Commons

On screen: Films, 2001–2014. Every series here that has been adapted for the screen →

The Lord of the Rings and Middle-earth in publication order

1. 1The Hobbit (1937)Sold as several recordings: which to buy
2. 2The Fellowship of the Ring (1954)Sold as several recordings: which to buy
3. 3The Two Towers (1954)Sold as several recordings: which to buy
4. 4The Return of the King (1955)Sold as several recordings: which to buy
5. 5The Silmarillion (1977)Sold as several recordings: which to buy

Which recording should you buy?

5 books in this series are sold as more than one recording. Each comparison says which to buy and why:

• The Hobbit5 recordings compared
• The Fellowship of the Ring3 recordings compared
• The Two Towers3 recordings compared
• The Return of the King3 recordings compared
• The Silmarillion2 recordings compared

Who reads it

• Andy SerkisThe Hobbit, The Lord of the Rings
• Rob InglisThe Hobbit, The Fellowship of the Ring
• Martin ShawThe Silmarillion, The Hobbit (abridged)