I ordered these off a well known internet store today - the first 2 are released on 8th November but the last one will not be available until 14th December as it has a lot of images from WETA (over 1000 apparently).

The Hobbit - An Unexpected Journey: Visual Companion
The Hobbit - An Unexpected Journey: Official Movie Guide
The Hobbit - An Unexpected Journey: Chronicles, Art and Design

I have all the equivalent LotR publications and they have been very useful. There are all sorts of calendars and children's books appearing so if any of them turn out to have images not repeated elsewhere (unlikely but you never know), I may acquire one or more of those as well.

I can do a mini-review when these arrive at Schloss Dorthenstein.

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Published ebooks:
Instrument of the Empire
A Note of Defiance
Phantom Ships, Ghost Flotilla
More to come!

I also have the LotR version of these books. I highly recommend them. I will be picking up the Hobbit versions as well. I would look forward to your thoughts on the books.

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Respectfully,
Jonathan

Do what is right, love mercy, and walk humbly

Battle Companies

These 2 books arrived today:

The Hobbit - An Unexpected Journey: Visual Companion
The Hobbit - An Unexpected Journey: Official Movie Guide

There are lots of excellent photos of all the dwarves, Gandalf, Radagast - everything that you would expect to want to paint (more or less). Pics of Misty Mountain orcs and goblins, the Great Goblin, packground information and pics of Hobbiton, Bag-end and Rivendell that just ask to be made into mini-dioramas. There is an intriguing shot of the White Council - on the table before them is what appears to be a Morgul blade, identical to the one the Witchking used to stab Frodo.

Each of the main characters has been covered in some detail - multiple individual pics, group pics and descriptions of character and weaponry.

Well worth it folks - I am very happy!

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Published ebooks:
Instrument of the Empire
A Note of Defiance
Phantom Ships, Ghost Flotilla
More to come!

Thanks for the heads up, I'll be checking to see if they're on the shelves tomorrow

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Operation future in full swing.

How much overlap are there on these? Is it worth it to pick up both of them?

I will only get a chance to read through them completely over the next 2-3 days. There is overlap to some extent but not enough that it would deter me (but then I am a bit mad ). There are some glorious photos in both books - I am already thinking about colours and how to paint minis depending on what sculpts appear - armed dwarves, travelling dwarves, that sort of thing. Great pic of Master Elrond in the High Elf style armour - looking fantastic.

I cannot post any of the pics as the copyright Inquisition would get all riled up. My advice - go look in a bookstore and decide for yourselves whether you prefer one or the other, or both. I am really looking forward to the bigger WETA book but I have to wait until 14th December for that one!

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Published ebooks:
Instrument of the Empire
A Note of Defiance
Phantom Ships, Ghost Flotilla
More to come!

The Chronicles arrived yesterday - I flicked through it last night. A real feast for the eyes and a sneak peek at some scenes that were not included in the cinema release. Good reference photos and lots of the concept art and how these evolved into what we saw on screen. Much about Hobbiton, Bag-end (for those planning to build it), dwarves and their weapons including the forces seen at Erebor and battling outside the Moria east gate. It also includes a full size fold-out copy of the the Erebor map and a version of Bilbo's contract - I read bits of it and yes, it is hysterically funny when you think of the very polite, civilised Mr Bilbo Baggins reading this sort of stuff for the very first time. I thoroughly recommend it.

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Published ebooks:
Instrument of the Empire
A Note of Defiance
Phantom Ships, Ghost Flotilla
More to come!

Nice. I'm hoping that I'll get it for Christmas. And if I don't, I'll look into getting it otherwise...

Excellent, thanks for the min-review Chris. I will definitely be getting these volumes around Christmas time. I do want to finish off my Bag End model, so the Chronicles sounds ideal.

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Dagster

I have the second Chronicles book on the way now - this one covers beings/creatures - The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey Chronicles, Creatures & Characters
There is a small blurb on the WETA site: http://www.wetanz.com/the-hobbit-chroni ... ming-soon/
I am hoping this has more hi-res images that will help with painting and other projects (ahem!)

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Published ebooks:
Instrument of the Empire
A Note of Defiance
Phantom Ships, Ghost Flotilla
More to come!

Just got the second Chronicles book, its good, not as good as the first though IMO.
Have only look at it quickly, great photos but none of the fantastic sketches of the first book.

Point to note, dont be thinking there is a third on Amazon, it is a mistake, same book, number 2 listed twice at a high price!

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Harfoots-The first of the Hobbit people to cross over the Misty Mountains and enter Eriador.

I know about the Amazon hiccup but I am getting mine from The Book Depository - same price as the lower one on Amazon and free postage.
If the photos are good quality, then for £14 I will be quite happy.

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Published ebooks:
Instrument of the Empire
A Note of Defiance
Phantom Ships, Ghost Flotilla
More to come!

Oh yes, it's brilliant and we'll worth the money

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Harfoots-The first of the Hobbit people to cross over the Misty Mountains and enter Eriador.