by Tolkien fans the world over. Previous Tolkien calendars have become much sought after collector's items, and this year's will doubtless be an essential purchase for Middle-earth fans everywhere. This year's calendar features 13 full-colour paintings of scenes from across the Second Age of Middle-earth. Famously described by Tolkien as a 'dark age, and not very much of its history is (or need be) told', for many years readers would need to be content with the tantalizing glimpses of it found within the pages of The Lord of the Rings and its appendices, including the forging of the Rings of Power, the building of the Barad-dur and the rise of Sauron. Now presented for the first time in calendar form, with two new paintings from the doyen of Tolkien art, Alan Lee, and with an insightful introduction by Brian Sibley, Tolkien fans can discover the Second Age in greater depth than ever before.