My friend Dan introduced me to "The Lord Of The Rings", which was the first fantasy novel that I read. He loved this book. He was always drawing pictures of the characters, and subscribed to a fan magazine called "Mythalore". I was introduced to the book the first time I went over to Dan’s house in Running Springs. A copy of Mythalore was in his room, and I flipped through it out of curiosity (and boredom, since Dan was playing his guitar at the time).
I was immediately hooked. A few months later, on my birthday, I asked my mother to get me a copy of the book for my birthday present. Dan, myself and my mom all drove down to Central City Mall (in San Bernardino, California), found the book and purchased it. I went whole hog, and got the deluxe leather bound edition. It was one of the best purchases that I ever made. I have read that book more often and with more pleasure than any other fantasy novel.
Unless otherwise noted, all photos and text is Copyright © Richard G Lowe, Jr.