4 Not Quite What It Seems

Tales from the Perilous Realm by J.R.R. Tolkien is an intriguing collection that begins, as many books do, with the cover. The cover art depicts a classic dragon-slaying scene, which is actually from "Farmer Giles of Ham." You wouldn’t know it unless you’ve read the story, though—it gives the impression of an epic fantasy battle. The title Tales from the Perilous Realm also sets the wrong tone at first glance. It hints at adventure fantasy, but what Tolkien really means by "Perilous Realm" is the world of Faerie—a dangerous place indeed. The illustration, undoubtedly by Ted Nasmith, feels too serious for these tales, given his reputation for working on Tolkien’s high fantasy like The Silmarillion and The Lord of the Rings, rather than fairy stories.

To be honest, I didn’t read the entire collection this time around because I had already read most of it before. However, I couldn’t find “Leaf by Niggle” or Tolkien's essay "On Fairy Stories" as separate editions, so I got acquainted with them in this book.

As for "Leaf by Niggle," Tolkien repeatedly insisted it wasn’t an allegory, but it’s hard not to see one! No matter how closely I look, I notice individual themes like life, death, the afterlife, purgatory, and even a sort of final judgment. Yet, the picture doesn’t quite come together, although there’s a feeling that it’s just about to, almost, but not quite.

"On Fairy Stories," on the other hand, offers a fascinating glimpse into the time Tolkien lived in. Written in 1939, it touches on robot factories and the age of the internal combustion engine. I can only imagine what Tolkien would think of today's technological advancements! It’s especially interesting to study Tolkien’s thoughts on a genre he not only knew well but also contributed to shaping himself. He even mentions that the Gospel contains elements of Faerie that have entered the real world—though by today’s standards, that view might seem a little naive.

All in all, this is a great book for anyone wanting to explore Tolkien’s shorter works. Though, "On Fairy Stories" feels a bit out of place next to the fictional stories, being the only critical essay amidst the rest of the imaginative tales.