Denether is as blameworthy for imperiling his sons as Arthur is for pitting Sir Gawain against the Green Knight. It tempts the lord to exploit his subordinates' devotion and needlessly risk their lives. _Ofermod_ is exemplified by Beowulf fighting the dragon alone, Roland refusing to summon aid, and the last King of Gondor duelling the Chief Ringwraith. This rash pride destroys followers as well as leader. Tolkien contrasts true kingly heroism to _ofermod_, overweening high spirit. Kingship is the second of the principal themes. In her 'conversion story,' self-described Wiccan high priestess Phyllis Curott, an Ivy League-educated lawyer who was raised by agnostics, describes her journey from secular materialism to Wicca as. Tom's wife Goldberry is a lesser female analog.

Like a Thomistic angel, he is the sole member of his particular species. He is a sort of incarnate nature spirit, as literally amoral as the Elf Queen in 'The Ballad of Thomas the Rhymer.' The Ring has no power over him for he lacks the will to power. Tom Bombadil, the oldest living individual in Middle Earth, serves as a counterpoint to the stark contrasts of good and evil. The quest could not have succeeded without Sam, and he is rewarded with passage to the Undying Lands. The Ring harms him least, perhaps because he is unused to seeking his own will. This has the perfect blend of characters that matter, intriguing worlds and fantasy. It is one of those rare boks that gets you so involved that when you close it and get back to the real world, the real world seems imaginary. SANDRA MIESEL Only love for his master leads him from the Shire, fuels his unfailing loyalty, and transforms him into his master's equal. This is a quality piece of work by Sandra Miesel.

It is the apotheosis of humble, utterly mundane Sam that strikes the reader most forcefully. But their triumphs are not unexpected, for Frodo and Aragorn are in all ways remarkable persons. Frodo's greatness is demonstrated by the intensity of his challenge, Aragorn's by its duration. Each principal character is tempted in proportion to his strength and according to his role.

Shaman by Sandra Miesel