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Middle Earth

Middle Earth · J.R.R. Tolkien

Middle Earth books in order

There are 4 books in Middle Earth. The latest, The Return of the King, came out in 1955, and J.R.R. Tolkien hasn't announced another one yet.

No new book announced yetLatest book 1955

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Release information last checked 26 October 2026.

Middle Earth books in order

  1. The Hobbit, or There and Back Again
    Book 1
    The Hobbit, or There and Back Again
    1937
  2. The Fellowship of the Ring
    Book 2
    The Fellowship of the Ring
    1954
  3. The Two Towers
    Book 3
    The Two Towers
    1954
  4. The Return of the King
    Book 4
    The Return of the King
    1955

Companion stories

  1. Bilbo's Last Song
    Companion
    Bilbo's Last Song
    1974
  2. The Silmarillion
    Companion
    The Silmarillion
    1977

What Middle Earth is about

From the description of The Hobbit, or There and Back Again, the first book.

"In a hole in the ground there lived a hobbit." So begins one of the most beloved and delightful tales in the English language. Set in the imaginary world of Middle-earth, at once a classic myth and a modern fairy tale, The Hobbit is one of literature's most enduring and well-loved high fantasy novels. Bilbo Baggins is a hobbit who enjoys a comfortable, unambitious life, rarely traveling any farther than his pantry or cellar. But his contentment is disturbed when the wizard Gandalf and a company of dwarves arrive on his doorstep one day to whisk him away on an adventure. They have launched a plot to raid the treasure hoard guarded by Smaug the Magnificent, a large and very dangerous dragon. Bilbo reluctantly joins their epic quest, unaware that on his journey to the Lonely Mountain he will encounter both a magic ring and a frightening creature known as Gollum.

Middle Earth at a glance

Author
J.R.R. Tolkien
Books published
4
Companion stories
2
Still to come
None announced yet
First book published
1937

Questions readers ask

Is there going to be another Middle Earth book?

J.R.R. Tolkien hasn't announced one yet. If a new Middle Earth book is announced, AuthorPing will let you know.

How many books are in Middle Earth?

4 books have been published in Middle Earth so far, plus 2 companion stories.

What order should I read Middle Earth in?

Read the main books in order: 1. The Hobbit, or There and Back Again, 2. The Fellowship of the Ring, 3. The Two Towers, 4. The Return of the King. The 2 companions can be read alongside them.

Is Middle Earth finished?

J.R.R. Tolkien hasn't announced another Middle Earth book, so it may be finished. Series do come back, though, and AuthorPing will let you know if a new one is announced.

How will I know when the next Middle Earth book is announced?

Follow Middle Earth in AuthorPing, a free app for iPhone and Android. AuthorPing notifies you when a series or author you love has a new book coming out and shows a countdown to every release.

More from J.R.R. Tolkien

All J.R.R. Tolkien books and what's nextThe Lord of the Rings

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