Tales from the Perilous Realm on audiobook was a delight. It's a BBC production, done up with sound effects and theatrical narration. It makes you feel like a child listening your grandfather tell you tall tales about the fantastical. I'm so glad I chose this for 1971 book read! :) The book is the telling of four of JRR Tolkien's fairy tales."Farmer Giles of Ham"Farmer Giles is a plump farmer living his quiet life in his village, Ham. One day a giant comes into his village and Giles manages to scare him off. The tale of Giles' heroic actions gets told throughout his village, many others finally making its way to the King. Only problem is that by that point, the story has grown into the tale of the Giles, the Great Giant Slayer. Upon hearing of Giles' "slaying the giant", the king decides that he's due a gift to show his gratitude and gives him a grand sword. After things have calmed down a bit, Chrysophylax, a mighty dragon, makes his way to Ham. Now, all the villagers and the king want Giles to slay him. Giles, knowing that he must either face up to the tall tale that's been told about him or the dragon, chooses to face the dragon. Rating: 4★'A fabulous tale of the days when giants and dragons walked the kingdom' - SUNDAY TIMES"Leaf by Niggle"This story begins with the narrator telling us that every leaf on a tree holds a unique tale. Niggle is a painter, but one that finds he never has enough time to spend painting. His time is taken up by the requests of many. See, Niggle cannot say no to those who ask for his help. It bothers him to no end that people will not leave him be, he's got a painting to finish, can't they see? He's working on the perfect leaf, but soon his painting of the leaf turns into a tree with many leaves, then a forest. The painting has grown so large, he must build a shed just to house it. His neighbors pay his paintings no mind, believing it's a wasteful hobby and he's not really any good. Niggle shows them though when he finally unveils the final result of his efforts. Rating: 3★'A haunting and successful demonstration of the qualities of faerie' - NEW YORK TIMES"Smith of Wootton Major"Smith lives in the village of Wootton Major, best known for it's cooks. His name is fitting b/c he's a smithy. While working one day, he tells the children gathered in this shop the story of his father, a former master cook, and the infamous 24 Feast. It's called that because it is held every 24 years and only 24 good children are invited to attend. For the feast, the master cook must prepare the Great Cake. It's the highlight of the feast and everyone in the village looks forward to hearing about it. When Smith was a young boy, his father surprised everyone by announcing he was going on vacation. To where, no one knew. But, when he returned, he brought with him Apprentice. Three years later, seven years before the next 24 feast, he announced, to the villages dismay, that he would be retiring and Apprentice would be making the Grand Cake.Young Smith was invited to attend that 24 feast. Each child was told that within the cake were trinkets. As the children ate, they searched for the special trinkets. Smith found a coin, which he gave to his girl friend (who he ended up marrying). The Apprentice and Father Smith were shocked because no child claimed to have found the most special of trinkets, the Silver Star. One night Young Smith was so taken by the beauty of the night that he started to sing, while singing a silver star fell from his mouth. In shock, he brought the hand with the star up to his forehead, where it stuck. He soon finds out that this Silver Star allows him to enter The Perilous Realm, The Land of Fairy. Rating: 3★'Whoever reads it at eight will no doubt still be going back to it at eighty' - NEW STATESMAN"The Adventures of Tom Bombadil"The story begins with Froto Baggins and hobbit friends heading off on their mission to destroy the One Ring. While wandering through the haunted forest they get lost. To their relief, the stumble upon a house, the home of Tom Bombadil. They are all welcomed inside, told that nothing will harm them while they stay there and recover. Tom Bombadil is master of wood, water and hill. Each night he tells them stories of the wood. Each night Froto has terrible dreams, but the reassurances that nothing can harm him while in Tom Bombadil's home enable him to return to sleep without fear. The hobbits are given shelter, food and drink. One night during story telling, Tom Bombadil stops and asks Froto to tell him about his mission. Froto, remembering the promise to Gandolf, tries to remain quiet. But, eventually Tom gets the full story out of Froto and the other hobbits. Tom asks if he could see the ring, hold it. Froto offers up the ring. While Tom is holding it something strange happens. He returns the ring to Froto, but he's not certain it's the same right. What's been done to it? Did he switch it with a ring that looks the same? Knowing they must return to their mission, Froto and the hobbits ask Tom Bombadil to come with them. He's master of the wood and would surely be able to keep them safe. But, instead of agreeing to go along, Tom gives them a rhyme to remember, stating that should they need his help, repeat the rhyme and he'll appear. The hobbits set off and eventually do run into more trouble, trouble of the most dangerous sort. Quickly Froto remembers the rhyme and beings to recite it. Rating: 4★'Something close to genius' - THE LISTENEROverall Rating: 3.5★I've left out bits, so I could post my review without spoilers. The stories are all entertaining. This would be a fun book to read to children.