A dual-edition full-color book for the millions of fans who have taken The Lord of the Rings to heart through the celebrated film trilogy. Many of the images included in this volume, depicting pivotal scenes and characters, were previously embargoed and have never appeared in book form. The work of Alan Lee and John Howe -- the two artists most closely associated with Tolkien's world -- is featured, along with that of many other talented artists and designers. The artists' own descriptions of the design process used in creating the look of the films both enlighten and enliven this essential book.