Bored of the Rings: A Parody of J. R. R. Tolkien's Lord of the Rings

by The Harvard Lampoon, Henry N. Beard, Douglas C. Kenney

Book Overview

A quest, a war, a ring that would be grounds for calling any wedding off, a king without a kingdom, and furry little 'hero' named Frito, ready - or maybe just forced by the wizard Goodgulf - to undertake the one mission that can save Lower Middle Earth from enslavement by the evil Sorhed. . . Luscious Elf-maidens, a roller-skating dragon, ugly plants that can soul kiss the unwary to death - these are just some of the ingredients in the wildest, wackiest,...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0451452615
• ISBN13: 9780451452610
• Release Date: July 1993
• Publisher: Roc
• Length: 176 Pages
• Weight: 0.38 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.5" x 5.3" x 8.0"
• Age Range: 18 years and up
• Grade Range: Grade 12 and higher

Customer Reviews

Co written by the late Doug Kinney from Chargin Falls Ohio. Father of Animal House & Caddy Shack.

I bought this for the “queen of the puns” my ex wife Taylor.

The Harvard Lampoon's take on Tolkien's "Lord of the Rings"

I remember very few lines of verse, but amongst those committed to memory are the lines: "We Boggies are a merry folk/who like to eat until we choke/loving all like friend and brother/and hardly ever eat each other" (which is followed up a chorus that repeats the word "gobble" a whole bunch of times). "Bored of the Rings," the Harvard Lampoon parody of J.R.R. Tolkien's "Lord of the Rings," was written by Douglas C. Kenney and Henry N. Beard at the end of the Sixties, right before they went off into the real world to found "The National Lampoon" and at a time when the Trilogy was required reading for fans of fantasy. Of course, it goes without saying that much of what you will find in here will be grossly offensive and that if you are not well versed in Tolkien's Trilogy then the story of the ring that was given by Dildo Bugger to his nephew Frito, who then embarked with his servant Spam, his friends Moxie and Pepsi, Goodgulf Grayteeth the wizard, Stomper the ranger (a.k.a. Arrowroot of Arrowshirt), Bromosel, Gimlet the dwarf and Legolam the elf across Lower Middle Earth to the dark land of Fordor is not going to make much sense. For that matter you had better be well versed in the drug culture of the Sixties and the political machinations of Richard Nixon to get all of the references (I just realized: we need an annotated edition of "Bored of the Rings"). Even if you have seen the movies and recognize the lady Hashberry, you still need to have read the books to know who Tom Benzedrine is in the grand scheme of things. My favorite scene are when the Ballhog shows up and when Goddam and the ring meet their final fate. This is a lengthy parody, necessitated by the size of the work that inspired this insanity. Despite the low-brown humor involved with the playful names, there is some college level sophistication to the parody as well. However, if you consider Tolkien to be sacred text, then do not go anywhere near "Bored of the Rings" because you will be grossly offended (and probably several other types of offended as well). I will still maintain that the wicked sense of humor here is inspired by an affection for Tolkien's work, but understand that there will be those who dismiss that idea.

Bored of the Rings

I bought this book when it first came out. Was reading on a long flight. I had to put it away because my out-loud laughter was interferring with other passengers! Once read, you'll never see the original in the same way! Purists beware: this hilarious parody may make you mad if you're humor-impaired.

Nasty. Vicous. Acidulous. Disrespectful. Wicked. Priceless.

I've read and re-read LOTR more times than I can remember. A few years back, it was my daughter's bedtime story for more than a year - she still has nightmares about the barrow wight! So don't get me wrong - LOTR will always be one of my most treasured reading experiences.But."Bored of the Rings" is probably the most perfect exercise in satire I've ever read. There's gold on every page - the book is the perfect hinge between the glories of Mad Magazine at its sharpest and the brilliance of the National Lampoon generation to come. Doug Kenney died not very long after this book was published. What a loss! Yes, as other reviewers have noted, you'll laugh harder if you're well-drilled in Tolkien's books and late-sixties commercial, product and political references. Get an oldie like me to explain 'em to you, kids. Don't miss BOTR. Hop a hill, pop a pill, for old Tim Benzedrino!

If you've never heard of Tolkein, you'll love this book!

My brother gave me a copy of Bored of the Rings when I turned 20, I'm 39 now and just the thought of Legolam molesting a chipmunk behind a tree makes me laugh, not to mention Stomper tripping over his sword and spilling silver bullets all over the floor. I misplaced my copy several years ago and I can't wait to get my hands on another one.

Best book ever

This is the absolute funniest book I have ever read. If you are a fan of The Lord of the Rings, this is a "must-read"!