The prospect is discussed. The land is empty and without aid which also makes the fellowship vulnerable. They’d need much more supplies out of Rivendell which would slow them as they can’t resupply in Lorien. They’d be going out of their way and burning time they don’t have as, Sauron is amassing armies and putting the screws on Gondor and Lorien day by day.
Further, they would need to go through Dunland and that is hostile territory, from there through Druwaith Iaur and the presumed pass into Western Gondor and the slow trek east.
It’s one of the best parts of Tolkien’s work. You can tell he really thought about their path. I love that you can follow the exact trail of the Fellowship from the moment the Hobbits left the Shire. Most books that include maps don’t really connect the different parts together very well imo.
Reading lotr is about picking up the maps while you do the reading to understand what the characters are discussing. It adds a lot of detail and it's very time consuming, but it's worth it. The appendixes even have instructions on how to pronounce the names.
Robert Jordan is the other one that really talks about how people move from one place to another that comes to mind.
Discworld directions on the other hand have always twisted my noodle right up.
Well it doesn’t help that you have to learn a whole new set of directions for Discworld lol. I just grabbed the whole Wheel of Time series and is one of the ones i’m contemplating starting after finishing my current LoTR read. It’s between that, the Black Company, and The Sword of Truth.
If you want to continue the vibe and detail and epic-ness of LotR, absolutely do WoT next. If the detail and "atmosphere" of Tolkien is what draws you, you'll love WoT (though there are a few books that you'll find yourself going "okay, and?"). It's all there for a reason, but it's a bit of a slog when you don't know where it's going/why you have 3 entire books building up to an actual plot event. Push through it, though, it's every bit as beautiful and detailed and thought out as Middle Earth. People trash Jordan, especially for "the slog," but really WoT is as close to Tolkien as anyone has ever gotten. It is a legitimately *great* epic fantasy.
Though I will say the black company is probably my second favorite fantasy series (behind the Legendarium) The writing style and especially the unreliable narrator and format *definitely* take some getting used to. But it is absolutely incredible. Very much more grim than Tolkien though. If you like the hope and general feeling that the good guys are good and are going to do good things and come out on top... Black company may be a bit of a shock, lol. It's very much more... Real. These are real people acting like real people would, and if you've lived on Earth for a while you know how that goes.
Basically both are great choices, but which you'll enjoy more will probably depend on whether you want to read someone who was clearly dedicated to continuing Tolkien, or someone who wanted to take Tolkien's scale and go a completely different way
I.... Didn't like the sword of truth, tbh very formulaic and predictable. So no in depth review on that one, lol. It's the "2 and a half men" of fantasy. Like... It's *fine*, if you've got it on the shelf and you just need a series it's not terrible by any means, but not something you tell your friends "wow you've gotta check this out"
A lot of good info there. The Black Company has been one I’ve been eyeballing for quite a long time. I really love the Red Rising series and Darrow might be the epitome of an unreliable narrator lol. Dude is always plotting but the reader doesn’t always find out about it until he’s ready to execute. I enjoy that, but I understand not everyone does. And obviously everyone knows of WoT. I’m just not sure I’m ready for the commitment just yet lol. I may end up doing the first book of each series and maybe alternating unless one of them absolutely hooks me. Should I start with New Spring or The Eye of the World? I usually go publication order, but there are exceptions like with the Legend of Drizzt where I do start with the Dark Elf trilogy instead of Icewind Dale.
Okay so... Long winded fantasy nerd reply incoming... Definitely start with Eye of the World if that's the way you're going to decide between the two. Though I will give the disclaimer that Eye of the World gives a *bit* of a false impression of the series. It kind of follows the "farm boy is clearly special, here's his journey to confronting the big bad" that is very typical of the epic fantasy genre. While it is still very epic in scale and there's a lot of things going on, it's really about book three that you *really* start to understand the scope of WoT (it still is a great example of that storyline though. Eye of the world is in my top 3 in the series). Eye of the world is basically an introduction to the plot, not an example of the scale of the series... If that makes sense
Whereas Black Company pretty much from book one, you understand what this is about. You get that this is, well, the Chronicles of the Black Company. You're following a mercenary unit. The scale absolutely expands and things get much bigger than the first book. But I feel like the first book gives a better impression of what the series is than the first book of WoT. And when I say unreliable narrator I with black company, I don't necessarily mean they're *lying* to the reader. But you're reading the account of a scribe of a mercenary unit. Is what he's saying what actually happened? Or is it twisted to make good guys out of the one's with more money? It's a really cool format and I wish they were more broadly loved. It's fantastic writing and makes you think
They're both fantastic and I think you're on the right track with alternating. The Black Company is probably more likely to grab you and make you want to continue, but I actually think it's a pretty good idea to kind of alternate (especially through 6-8 of WoT where you're going to find yourself going "okay, and then?")
Sword of Truth is worth it just for the moments of Zedd going into apoplectic shock or just Zedd being Zedd.
I would recommend the Eddings' books though. Plays around a bit with the idea of the Hero and the Hero's Party, and makes fun of some of the more ridiculous tropes without feeling like it's breaking the 4th wall or trashing the stories that use them.
That's fair, "didn't like" was probably too strong. I finished the series which says enough on its own (I have a huge list of series that I said "yeah, not for me, I'll find something else). It definitely has its moments and if you're looking for the " comfort food" equivalent in a series, its not bad.
Black Company is *incredible*. It’s essentially 3 different series so it doesn’t feel like such a slug to the “final battle” or anything. But it’s almost nothing like LotR. Other than maybe similar levels of magic in the world. And there is an emphasis on description of scenery.
Not to mention, there is a link between Isengard and the South Farthing of the shire. If the fellowship crossed areas near half-orcs going to trade/pillage pipe-weed, they would have been discovered.
Im just guessing but i feel like aragorn/the grey company may have knowledge of that, which he could discuss with gandalf prior to making the plan for the hobbits to go ro Bree instead and meet with Strider there
Aragorn and/or the Grey Company knew that there was a link between Isengard and the South Farthing? If so, is there a reason why that wasn't discussed during the Council of Elrond? Why keep this a secret from the Hobbits present?
no, but they did know that Saruman had been making inroads with the Dunlendings and others in that region. plus that route takes them too close to isengard.
I don't think anyone knew that Saruman was working for the wrong side. Which is why Gandalf went for counsel. I think they may have considered the location of Isengard and its proximity to different places but I doubt they knew. Plus at the white counsel meeting Gandalf is like "friends.....*morgul blade intensifies*" and Saruman is like "ok and? It's just an antique." So arguably Gandalf was too busy doing too many things to see beyond being like "he's probably stressed." After all Saruman does save Gandalf at dol goldur and that's really when it hits Saruman that the necromancer might be Sauron himself. Which is why he then promptly afterwards does everything he can to secretly track down the ring, ally with Mordor, and eventually capture Gandalf. All in the false hopes of his hubris he can supplant Sauron.
i hadn't read the books yet, but didn't Gandalf already discover Saruman had switched prior to going to Rivendell, did he not have a duel with Saruman after discovering he had one of the Palantiri. surely Gandalf knowing this would decide going in close proximity to Isengard would be a bad idea, what with all the orcs tearing down the forests and pillaging the lands.
If I remember correctly doesn't that happen before Rivendell? Which would explain why they pick such a weird path. And also explains why Saruman wasn't there. And why Gandalf didn't bring him up.
As Gandalf is heading to the shire, in the books, to meet up with Frodo and "help him move", which was cover for him to leave the shire with less watchful eyes, he ran into radaghast. He was relayed a message that saruman had insight into his quest and requested Gandalf's council. Gandalf was then imprisoned then and by the time he escaped and found out the 9 were searching, he barely missed the hobbits at every stop. He ended up being about a day ahead of them at weather top, and fought the 9 there, drawing 4 away
Yep, Gandalf goes to see Saruman just before he plans to meet up with Frodo and take him out of the Shire to Rivendell, and he gets imprisoned on top of Orthanc for months.
> didn't Gandalf already discover Saruman had switched prior to going to Rivendell
Correct, and this is a serious point of concern. Really the threat of Saruman looms large through the Fellowship and Two Towers. It's hard to overstate just how devastating it is to the cause, and the movies do a poor job showing this imo.
Saruman was a top 10 power broker in ME, and he commanded the Gap of Rohan, an important strategic location, in addition to intimate knowledge of virtually every aspect of the free peoples.
In the chapter of ‘At the sign of the Prancing Pony’:
“*There was trouble away in the South and the men who had come up the Greenway were on the move, looking for lands where they could find peace.*”
Also Aragorn in the chapter ‘Strider’”*Black horsemen have passed through Bree. On Monday one came down the Greenway, they say; and another appeared later, coming up the Greenway from the South.*”
The hobbits and Aragorn knew the Greenway, and the south were dangerous for travel. Additionally, there was a Southerner with Bill Ferny at the Prancing Pony who acted suspiciously, which confirmed their fears.
It would be pure speculation if anyone knew specifically about Saruman's dealings in the Shire. At the Council of Elrond, they first learned of Saruman's treachery from Gandalf himself. More than enough reason not to take the ring anywhere near Isengard.
If memory serves, the first we learn of the connection is in LOTR following the sack of Isengard, when Merry and Pippen discover barrels of Southfarthing leaf floating in the flood waters.
Plus the route they initially set out on would take them near/through Lorian, Rohan, and Gondor who as allies would theoretically be able to provide aid to the Fellowship.
I mean, it seems far more doable through Rhovanion than through Harad and Khand, but the prospect of being spotted in the open steppes between the Dead Marshes and northeast Nurn with no hope of receiving help from anyone south of Dorwinion or west of Cair Andros is indeed terrifying
You would be going deep into Rhûn through territory that is seeing thousands of men marching through it constantly. What’s more you are adding hundreds of miles on just to turn back around and walk the way through again through what is in effect a surveillance state (movements are tracked and every orc and man has a number etc).
You would need more water than could be carried, and what’s worse is the Ringbearer is traveling through Mordor even longer with the Ring dragging him down. I would say trying to find some makeshift route over the mountains would be more feasible than going the long way round.
>through what is in effect a surveillance state (movements are tracked and every orc and man has a number etc).
I don't remember reading about this, is my memory bad or was this in another book rather than lotr?
Yes. When Gondor gave those fertile lands to Eorl for his services, the Eorlingas did a little bit of genociding on the native Dunlendings, and the survivors were driven west to much more barren lands.
There were several bloody wars and border skirmishes between those Dunlendings and the Rohirrim during the following centuries, and the Dunlendings ended the first line of Rohan's kings when they took the Golden Hall.
Saruman had no trouble riling them up once more for the lands and the leaders they had lost at the hands of Rohan.
It’s also probably that those in Lorien are much more to be trusted with the fate of the ring than nobles of southern and western Gondor. Who knows what they would have tried to do with it… and, can’t really get enchanted elven swag down there either
Gandalf almost certainly intended them to go through Lorien once they passed over Redhorn or got through Moria, it’s the most sensible reason, and then it’s only natural for them to take the river for its speed. Aragorn is only at a loss of what do once they reach Rauros and have to decide to go east or west.
Aren't there accounts of spies and search parties ranging these areas? I am pretty sure i remember them discussing the routes and the tight net of search parties of Sauron drives them north, to elrond, further north than expected to cross the mountsins and then accidentially into moria and then towards Galadriel.
There are spies everywhere and Sauron and Saruman both have palantiri to gaze far and wide with. The fellowship are attacked by spectral wolves (werewolves?) as they are headed towards Moria after being defeated by Caradrhas.
Sauron knew where they were all through fellowship and only lost track of where the Ring was at Amon Hen when Merry and Pippin get captured and are taken towards Isengard.
I love that Tolkien had this pathway discussed in the book because it seems in theory the safest, but thanks to Sarumon going through the mountains, we're the only feasible route.
Isn't that also the same land Aragorn sailed up the alduin river from with ships from the enemy fleet?
Pretty sure by this time the entire areas was over run by the evil men from the south.
Yes, corsairs from the south were sailing up the Anduin to assault Minas Tirith, much of Gondor’s forces had been rallied to Minas Tirith leaving other areas exposed; another name for the Battle of Pellanor Fields was in fact the Battle of Gondor because if Minas Tirith fell then Gondor would be laid utterly open, so it was a fight where it was all hands on deck, hold the line.
Also Rohan provided the 9 ring wraiths with their horses and Gandalf was pretty much run out of Rohan
So they dont trust Rohan at the point of leaving Rivendel
In the books this is the key reason they want to cross the misty mountains and not go the southern pass
Well if they could get word to prince imrahill he’d meet them with a company of his men and guide them to dol amroth then to Mina’s trith and discuss what to do next
I didn’t totally follow that, but Aragorn is just a guy with odd friends and a sword elves gave him if he shows up in Dol Amroth, not the King. No healing hands of the king. No men of Dunharrow. No victory to his credit. No Rohirrim calling him Captain.
Denethor not dead and effectively heirless( or he is because Minas Tirith is already captured. Imrahil probably also dead, really, depending on how you want to analyze the counterfactual) so less willingness to follow Aragorn instead.
Gandalf said it would take too long, it's a months longer journey. So Minas Tirith would've fallen before they got there and getting into Mordor would've been much harder with the armies of the west in tatters.
In that case, Sauron would have had longer to muster his forces. Even if the battle is started later, it would still end quicker, if you catch my drift.
When they leave Lothlorien they note that the moon seemed wrong for the time they were there. I always read that as saying time in Lothlorien passes more slowly, so it's possible they didn't realize they spent a month there.
Time itself does not pass normally in Lothlorien. Sam estimates they spend 3 days resting, but the moon is in a completely different phase when they leave and nobody is quite sure what happened.
She probably assumed that everyone knew Lorien was home to the valar of rest, and knew what that entailed. It would be like saying "welcome to Disneyland... *where everything costs a boatload but you do get to take a picture with a giant mouse.*" But they don't say that, they just say "welcome to Disneyland," and assume that the rest is common knowledge.
I think this is an underrated point too. Also, these elves don’t really leave Lorien. And Aragorn was probably aware, but he was also recovering and at his fiancée(?)’s grandmother’s place.
Also people keep bringing up things like “Rohan would’ve fallen” that are true but would not have been known to the fellowship or in any way a part of the decision making. They didn’t plan their route for the best way to have the heroes help out, they were just going straight to Mordor with the path that had the best chance of getting there alive and/or undetected
Sounds safer than the fellowship travelling on foot, at various times chased by Nazgul on horseback, or flying beasts, or hordes of orcs.
The eagles weren't that involved because it would've made the story boring. But this is no criticism towards Tolkien. Had the written everything with perfect logic, then the story would've been a boring historical account just the same.
I just read this part yesterday in the books lol. When they turn back from going over the mountains, they discuss what their options would be to continue. Moria is fastest but also very dangerous, and none of the fellowship but Gimli wants to go that way, but Gandalf says its really the best way considering their options. Only Aragorn and Gandalf have ever entered Moria before. Boromir says they should go through the gap of Rohan. Gandalf says that they should not risk at all taking the ring near Isengard because of Saruman. He also says that that way could take a whole year. The line you drew is even more south which would take the even longer (Year+). And that since Boromir came through the gap of Rohan to get to Rivendell, things have changed since Boromir took that road (Saruman revealed himself.) Gandalf also says they might find the company of Balin, another hopeful reason to take Moria route.
edit: The route that would potentially take a year would be the route OP drew. One of the routes that Boromir suggests.
>He also says that that way could take a whole year.
Does he say this? I'm not arguing he doesn't, I just don't remember it. I do remember the hobbits go home this way and, while there are no more real perils to slow them, they were very much taking their time and made it home in far less than a year.
It is a long way around, over mosty mostly empty inhospitable land. It would tak way too long and would be perilous a tiring to the extreme. They would have also needed tons of supplies. Travelling in essentially medival setting was extremely difficult, slow and perilous.
In the book when Boromir suggests taking the gap of Rohan, or an even more southern route into the Gondor region, Gandalf specifically says “we might spend a year in such a journey” referring to the longer journey south. Basically the one OP drew.
Would take longer for sure. Maybe not a year necessary but definitely longer.
Travelling by boats is faster and more comfortable.
Hobbits were free to take a gap of Rohan on the way back as they were in no particular hurry, war was won and Saruman was no longer a threat (well not that kind of threat anyway as he lost his power and Orthanc). Taking this detour with the ring was a different matter. Ring would have drawn the attention in Gondor too... and we know what Denethor would have think about it.
They travel almost exclusively by night, horses or ponies would've required more provisions and made them more easy to track. The movies I think really give a bad impression of the first leg of the journey and how much depended on secrecy. The entire plan hinged on Sauron never knowing until the very last moment that they were taking the Ring east to destroy it.
This is discussed in the book, bascially:
A. Takes too long, waaaaay to long
B. Empty barren land with nowhere to hide/ resupply.
C. Sauron has spies and eyes EVERYWHERE. They would have been spotted. The journey through moria actually plays a big part in the success of the mission as it hides them for a good while.
D. Saruman also would have had spies in this area as its within the sight of Isengard.
I believe that’s more of a movie invention. If I recall (been a while since I’ve read the books) I believe it was more the intention of Aragorn and Boromir to split off and head to Minas Tirith as they got further south?
Aragorn wanted to go to Gondor, his heart yearned for it, but he definitely didn’t want to bring the Ring there, knowing how easily it corrupted Men’s hearts.
That’s not true, the entire company even discussed heading to Minas Tirith from Lothlorien several times, and even discussed it as an option with Celeborn and Galadriel. Aragorn never opposed the idea for any reason other than because Frodo may not have wanted to go that way, because he was uncertain what way Gandalf intended for them to go after Lothlorien, and because heading there first from Lothlorien rather than continuing east was a longer journey. He ultimately was going to leave the choice to Frodo, but Frodo ended up sneaking off by himself (well until Sam caught him and joined him that is).
That Minas Tirith wouldn’t be a safe place for the Ring due to temptation is never brought up by Aragorn. He does remark that Denethor and the men of Gondor could not hope to achieve what even Elrond could not, that being keeping the ring there and secret and holding off Sauron’s forces when he comes to take it.
The one time I went south towards Rohan it seemed to take an eternity. I think that may have been the game I lucked into a military win for the FP when my opponent left Mordor wide open and I just simply walked right in.
I am hoping the one being worked on(?) for Attila will reach the same heights, eventually. Added a little ? because I have not checked in for well over a year or two
I’m not trying to throw shade at the project at all; everything I’ve ever seen has been incredible, but to my understanding the campaign has been “coming soon” for for a while. Was something said recently?
Related question, how was crossing through the Black Gate ever considered a viable option? The way the movies portray the Black Gate it would be impossible to get through unseen. It’s a giant constantly patrolled 5 story high wall of steel that only opens when large bodies of soldiers are marching through. Is the black gate greatly different in the books?
Honestly a great question as well. I look at it like… what other chance is there though?
The way faramir talks about cirith ungol, it’s obviously not a great way either
One of the few things about the Second book that bothers me is that they didn't go further east and try and get over the mountains there. A) the mountains look to thin out, This could just be a figment of Tolkien's map or they could have larger gaps between them. B) For distance wise the mountains a little further east were days closer than traveling to Cirth Ungol
Now I understand that Gollum made it sound like there was no other passage into the mountains than the way he wanted to take them and there is no guarantee that there would be passage that way, just seems like one of those times in a book where a thing has to happen so it does.
Nobody in the fellowship really knew what to do when they actually finally rocked up at Mordor. Frodo told Gollum to take him to the big gate because that's all Frodo knew about it. Gandalf may have had some ideas but he wasn't around. But of course in Middle-Earth if you are on the side of good then you have a lot more leeway to skip the detailed planning and just rely on fate to point you in the right direction.
I know they wanted to avoid the gap of Rohan due to Isengard being there. But was there any reason why they didn't go even farther south? I'm not familiar with anything in this region so genuinely curious why. Just too long?
This route was actually suggested while they were on their way, debating which way to go. I believe Gandalf said something along the lines of this route taking up too much time, time that they simply didn’t have, or more like couldn’t afford to take to get to Mordor.
I made another comment but to talk about the regions in question:
Enedwaith is mostly empty and open save for Dunland which is allied with Isengard. Going through such a land is asking to be spotted, waylaid and assaulted by a large force and for the Ring to be taken.
Druwaith Iaur and Andrast are rocky and mostly empty save for presumably the Púkelmen, a primitive race of men native to the area who aren’t evil but aren’t friendly either, they may not take kindly to trespassers (in Tolkiens notes some of the orc survivors from the Battle of the Fords and Helms Deep fled this way and were slain by these men). The problem beyond that is that you probably aren’t going to find a lot of food until you get to Langstrand where you are in Gondor proper, but taking the Ring among so many men is perilous.
From there the journey through southern Gondor wouldn’t be too bad as there are kept roads to take and the land is mostly safe.
As mentioned that route is extremely long and the end point isn't even where they are going. The stair of Cirith Ungol was no one's plan to enter Mordor. The main gate is the only serious entrance which is at the very north end of the western mountain. So they would have to loop even farther back north.
In addition to a couple of other answers in comments, I'm pretty sure there was no crossing of the Isen downstream of the Fords in the Gap of Rohan, so the Fellowship may well have just got somewhere down there and just been trapped with nowhere to go, and Corsairs in their faces.
I’m sure the betrayal of Saruman played a big part, they didn’t know if they could trust anyone if the leader of the council was flipped to the dark side
I think it was mentioned by Gandalf even in the Fellowship movie that the road across the Misty Mountains would take them too much time, hence his uneasy decision to go through the mines of Moria. If I remember that correctly, there’s a scene when the Fellowship are discussing which road to take from Rivendell where Gandalf provides some reasoning behind their road to Caradhras instead of moving south, and when this road gets blocked by Saruman’s spells they are left with none other choice than to attempt through Moria cuz it’s the shortest road left for them
The prospect is discussed. The land is empty and without aid which also makes the fellowship vulnerable. They’d need much more supplies out of Rivendell which would slow them as they can’t resupply in Lorien. They’d be going out of their way and burning time they don’t have as, Sauron is amassing armies and putting the screws on Gondor and Lorien day by day. Further, they would need to go through Dunland and that is hostile territory, from there through Druwaith Iaur and the presumed pass into Western Gondor and the slow trek east.
Makes sense! Thanks for the thoughtful answer. Was just looking through maps and started wondering
Map musings are always fun, my favorite kind in fact
The username does check out after all ;D nice explanation
It’s one of the best parts of Tolkien’s work. You can tell he really thought about their path. I love that you can follow the exact trail of the Fellowship from the moment the Hobbits left the Shire. Most books that include maps don’t really connect the different parts together very well imo.
It really is insane the level of detail. I’m looking through all the southern and eastern areas and all that’s involved there
Reading lotr is about picking up the maps while you do the reading to understand what the characters are discussing. It adds a lot of detail and it's very time consuming, but it's worth it. The appendixes even have instructions on how to pronounce the names.
Robert Jordan is the other one that really talks about how people move from one place to another that comes to mind. Discworld directions on the other hand have always twisted my noodle right up.
Well it doesn’t help that you have to learn a whole new set of directions for Discworld lol. I just grabbed the whole Wheel of Time series and is one of the ones i’m contemplating starting after finishing my current LoTR read. It’s between that, the Black Company, and The Sword of Truth.
If you want to continue the vibe and detail and epic-ness of LotR, absolutely do WoT next. If the detail and "atmosphere" of Tolkien is what draws you, you'll love WoT (though there are a few books that you'll find yourself going "okay, and?"). It's all there for a reason, but it's a bit of a slog when you don't know where it's going/why you have 3 entire books building up to an actual plot event. Push through it, though, it's every bit as beautiful and detailed and thought out as Middle Earth. People trash Jordan, especially for "the slog," but really WoT is as close to Tolkien as anyone has ever gotten. It is a legitimately *great* epic fantasy. Though I will say the black company is probably my second favorite fantasy series (behind the Legendarium) The writing style and especially the unreliable narrator and format *definitely* take some getting used to. But it is absolutely incredible. Very much more grim than Tolkien though. If you like the hope and general feeling that the good guys are good and are going to do good things and come out on top... Black company may be a bit of a shock, lol. It's very much more... Real. These are real people acting like real people would, and if you've lived on Earth for a while you know how that goes. Basically both are great choices, but which you'll enjoy more will probably depend on whether you want to read someone who was clearly dedicated to continuing Tolkien, or someone who wanted to take Tolkien's scale and go a completely different way I.... Didn't like the sword of truth, tbh very formulaic and predictable. So no in depth review on that one, lol. It's the "2 and a half men" of fantasy. Like... It's *fine*, if you've got it on the shelf and you just need a series it's not terrible by any means, but not something you tell your friends "wow you've gotta check this out"
A lot of good info there. The Black Company has been one I’ve been eyeballing for quite a long time. I really love the Red Rising series and Darrow might be the epitome of an unreliable narrator lol. Dude is always plotting but the reader doesn’t always find out about it until he’s ready to execute. I enjoy that, but I understand not everyone does. And obviously everyone knows of WoT. I’m just not sure I’m ready for the commitment just yet lol. I may end up doing the first book of each series and maybe alternating unless one of them absolutely hooks me. Should I start with New Spring or The Eye of the World? I usually go publication order, but there are exceptions like with the Legend of Drizzt where I do start with the Dark Elf trilogy instead of Icewind Dale.
Okay so... Long winded fantasy nerd reply incoming... Definitely start with Eye of the World if that's the way you're going to decide between the two. Though I will give the disclaimer that Eye of the World gives a *bit* of a false impression of the series. It kind of follows the "farm boy is clearly special, here's his journey to confronting the big bad" that is very typical of the epic fantasy genre. While it is still very epic in scale and there's a lot of things going on, it's really about book three that you *really* start to understand the scope of WoT (it still is a great example of that storyline though. Eye of the world is in my top 3 in the series). Eye of the world is basically an introduction to the plot, not an example of the scale of the series... If that makes sense Whereas Black Company pretty much from book one, you understand what this is about. You get that this is, well, the Chronicles of the Black Company. You're following a mercenary unit. The scale absolutely expands and things get much bigger than the first book. But I feel like the first book gives a better impression of what the series is than the first book of WoT. And when I say unreliable narrator I with black company, I don't necessarily mean they're *lying* to the reader. But you're reading the account of a scribe of a mercenary unit. Is what he's saying what actually happened? Or is it twisted to make good guys out of the one's with more money? It's a really cool format and I wish they were more broadly loved. It's fantastic writing and makes you think They're both fantastic and I think you're on the right track with alternating. The Black Company is probably more likely to grab you and make you want to continue, but I actually think it's a pretty good idea to kind of alternate (especially through 6-8 of WoT where you're going to find yourself going "okay, and then?")
Sword of Truth is worth it just for the moments of Zedd going into apoplectic shock or just Zedd being Zedd. I would recommend the Eddings' books though. Plays around a bit with the idea of the Hero and the Hero's Party, and makes fun of some of the more ridiculous tropes without feeling like it's breaking the 4th wall or trashing the stories that use them.
That's fair, "didn't like" was probably too strong. I finished the series which says enough on its own (I have a huge list of series that I said "yeah, not for me, I'll find something else). It definitely has its moments and if you're looking for the " comfort food" equivalent in a series, its not bad.
*There are strangers on the plains croaker*
Black Company is *incredible*. It’s essentially 3 different series so it doesn’t feel like such a slug to the “final battle” or anything. But it’s almost nothing like LotR. Other than maybe similar levels of magic in the world. And there is an emphasis on description of scenery.
The Sword of Truth is really badly written and verges on plagiarism due to certain elements. The author was also a dick.
Black Company!!!
>Discworld directions on the other hand have always twisted my noodle right up. Well, you can't map a sense of humor.
While reading the WoT, a lot of my time just went into tracking the simultaneous movements of Rand, Mat and Perrin
I enjoyed following the ta'veren around the map but once Rand started teleporting all around I started to feel like he was cheating a little bit.
Also the way into Mordor from that direction is heavily guarded by 100s of thousands of orcs.
Not to mention, there is a link between Isengard and the South Farthing of the shire. If the fellowship crossed areas near half-orcs going to trade/pillage pipe-weed, they would have been discovered.
Did they know about that link when planning the trip?
Im just guessing but i feel like aragorn/the grey company may have knowledge of that, which he could discuss with gandalf prior to making the plan for the hobbits to go ro Bree instead and meet with Strider there
Aragorn and/or the Grey Company knew that there was a link between Isengard and the South Farthing? If so, is there a reason why that wasn't discussed during the Council of Elrond? Why keep this a secret from the Hobbits present?
no, but they did know that Saruman had been making inroads with the Dunlendings and others in that region. plus that route takes them too close to isengard.
That makes sense, but I was responding to a comment mentioning the link between Isengard and the South Farthing.
I don't think anyone knew that Saruman was working for the wrong side. Which is why Gandalf went for counsel. I think they may have considered the location of Isengard and its proximity to different places but I doubt they knew. Plus at the white counsel meeting Gandalf is like "friends.....*morgul blade intensifies*" and Saruman is like "ok and? It's just an antique." So arguably Gandalf was too busy doing too many things to see beyond being like "he's probably stressed." After all Saruman does save Gandalf at dol goldur and that's really when it hits Saruman that the necromancer might be Sauron himself. Which is why he then promptly afterwards does everything he can to secretly track down the ring, ally with Mordor, and eventually capture Gandalf. All in the false hopes of his hubris he can supplant Sauron.
i hadn't read the books yet, but didn't Gandalf already discover Saruman had switched prior to going to Rivendell, did he not have a duel with Saruman after discovering he had one of the Palantiri. surely Gandalf knowing this would decide going in close proximity to Isengard would be a bad idea, what with all the orcs tearing down the forests and pillaging the lands.
If I remember correctly doesn't that happen before Rivendell? Which would explain why they pick such a weird path. And also explains why Saruman wasn't there. And why Gandalf didn't bring him up.
As Gandalf is heading to the shire, in the books, to meet up with Frodo and "help him move", which was cover for him to leave the shire with less watchful eyes, he ran into radaghast. He was relayed a message that saruman had insight into his quest and requested Gandalf's council. Gandalf was then imprisoned then and by the time he escaped and found out the 9 were searching, he barely missed the hobbits at every stop. He ended up being about a day ahead of them at weather top, and fought the 9 there, drawing 4 away
Yep, Gandalf goes to see Saruman just before he plans to meet up with Frodo and take him out of the Shire to Rivendell, and he gets imprisoned on top of Orthanc for months.
> didn't Gandalf already discover Saruman had switched prior to going to Rivendell Correct, and this is a serious point of concern. Really the threat of Saruman looms large through the Fellowship and Two Towers. It's hard to overstate just how devastating it is to the cause, and the movies do a poor job showing this imo. Saruman was a top 10 power broker in ME, and he commanded the Gap of Rohan, an important strategic location, in addition to intimate knowledge of virtually every aspect of the free peoples.
In the chapter of ‘At the sign of the Prancing Pony’: “*There was trouble away in the South and the men who had come up the Greenway were on the move, looking for lands where they could find peace.*” Also Aragorn in the chapter ‘Strider’”*Black horsemen have passed through Bree. On Monday one came down the Greenway, they say; and another appeared later, coming up the Greenway from the South.*” The hobbits and Aragorn knew the Greenway, and the south were dangerous for travel. Additionally, there was a Southerner with Bill Ferny at the Prancing Pony who acted suspiciously, which confirmed their fears.
It would be pure speculation if anyone knew specifically about Saruman's dealings in the Shire. At the Council of Elrond, they first learned of Saruman's treachery from Gandalf himself. More than enough reason not to take the ring anywhere near Isengard. If memory serves, the first we learn of the connection is in LOTR following the sack of Isengard, when Merry and Pippen discover barrels of Southfarthing leaf floating in the flood waters.
Plus the route they initially set out on would take them near/through Lorian, Rohan, and Gondor who as allies would theoretically be able to provide aid to the Fellowship.
It also leads them to the highest and most defended part of mordor while the northern route is the fastest towards walking around the ash mountains.
Are you talking about approaching Mount Doom from the East through the eastern gap of Mordor? Because that would be insane
I mean, it seems far more doable through Rhovanion than through Harad and Khand, but the prospect of being spotted in the open steppes between the Dead Marshes and northeast Nurn with no hope of receiving help from anyone south of Dorwinion or west of Cair Andros is indeed terrifying
You would be going deep into Rhûn through territory that is seeing thousands of men marching through it constantly. What’s more you are adding hundreds of miles on just to turn back around and walk the way through again through what is in effect a surveillance state (movements are tracked and every orc and man has a number etc). You would need more water than could be carried, and what’s worse is the Ringbearer is traveling through Mordor even longer with the Ring dragging him down. I would say trying to find some makeshift route over the mountains would be more feasible than going the long way round.
>through what is in effect a surveillance state (movements are tracked and every orc and man has a number etc). I don't remember reading about this, is my memory bad or was this in another book rather than lotr?
Interesting and informative comment! What/who exactly was the hostile faction in Dunland?
Dunlanders were hostile to Rohan and Saruman recruited them to his side. In the movies, they're who he's egging on by torchlight to attack Rohan.
Aha! Those who were driven into the hills to scratch a living off rocks.
To be fair…they kind of were…several hundred years before the lord of the rings
Yes. When Gondor gave those fertile lands to Eorl for his services, the Eorlingas did a little bit of genociding on the native Dunlendings, and the survivors were driven west to much more barren lands. There were several bloody wars and border skirmishes between those Dunlendings and the Rohirrim during the following centuries, and the Dunlendings ended the first line of Rohan's kings when they took the Golden Hall. Saruman had no trouble riling them up once more for the lands and the leaders they had lost at the hands of Rohan.
Exactly!
MURDERERS
It’s also probably that those in Lorien are much more to be trusted with the fate of the ring than nobles of southern and western Gondor. Who knows what they would have tried to do with it… and, can’t really get enchanted elven swag down there either
Gandalf almost certainly intended them to go through Lorien once they passed over Redhorn or got through Moria, it’s the most sensible reason, and then it’s only natural for them to take the river for its speed. Aragorn is only at a loss of what do once they reach Rauros and have to decide to go east or west.
I’d not want to be anywhere near Northern Harad as well or even Umbar
Those still rather far away. Corsair raids were coastal and had been curbed after Aragorn had burned the Umbar navy several decades before LotR
He did?
Yup, when he was younger and Denethor was a younger man
Yes, Thorongil was Aragorn in disguise. Which is one of the reasons Denethor doesn't like him very much.
Aren't there accounts of spies and search parties ranging these areas? I am pretty sure i remember them discussing the routes and the tight net of search parties of Sauron drives them north, to elrond, further north than expected to cross the mountsins and then accidentially into moria and then towards Galadriel.
There are spies everywhere and Sauron and Saruman both have palantiri to gaze far and wide with. The fellowship are attacked by spectral wolves (werewolves?) as they are headed towards Moria after being defeated by Caradrhas. Sauron knew where they were all through fellowship and only lost track of where the Ring was at Amon Hen when Merry and Pippin get captured and are taken towards Isengard.
Sauron's spies have many eyes! Frodo, don't wear the ring!
you know it's very tempting
Yeah. The crows of Saruman, his and Sauron's Palantiri, and ofc the feel for the Ring in use need to be added to my list...
This is why I love this sub. I learn more about Middle Earth every day.
Oh huh, I just figured too many toll roads.
“Can someone go back and get a shitload of dimes?”
I said the Shire is a ni...BONG
They had plenty of dimes- Legolas and Aragorn
Yes, they had "avoid tolls" turned on in Google Maps.
Troll roads, maybe.
The troll tolls
For whom the troll tolls? He trolls for thee😦
Gotta pay the troll's toll to get into the boy's soul
I love that Tolkien had this pathway discussed in the book because it seems in theory the safest, but thanks to Sarumon going through the mountains, we're the only feasible route.
@PloddingAboot, that was beautiful, perfect response. Mae govannen
Yeah, if I recall it would've added several weeks to the journey and not been much safer, if at all.
Isn't that also the same land Aragorn sailed up the alduin river from with ships from the enemy fleet? Pretty sure by this time the entire areas was over run by the evil men from the south.
Yes, corsairs from the south were sailing up the Anduin to assault Minas Tirith, much of Gondor’s forces had been rallied to Minas Tirith leaving other areas exposed; another name for the Battle of Pellanor Fields was in fact the Battle of Gondor because if Minas Tirith fell then Gondor would be laid utterly open, so it was a fight where it was all hands on deck, hold the line.
I also had a feeling that Gondor, being under stewardship, would attempt to take the ring for themselves, as Boromir did.
Also Rohan provided the 9 ring wraiths with their horses and Gandalf was pretty much run out of Rohan So they dont trust Rohan at the point of leaving Rivendel In the books this is the key reason they want to cross the misty mountains and not go the southern pass
The horses (black horses) were stolen from Rohan. They always refused the dark lord of their horses.
Eomer tells that to the three hunters, but it's a rumor that had been going around.
Boromir refutes it really strongly during the Council, though.
Indeed
Nice, well explained
Well if they could get word to prince imrahill he’d meet them with a company of his men and guide them to dol amroth then to Mina’s trith and discuss what to do next
If that’d be possible sure, though I’m not sure how, sadly Gondor doesn’t have a raven system like Westeros
Or he would seize the ring for Gondor.
With Aragorn there I doubt it the soldiers will see turning return and will no longer listen to a caretaker even if he hasn’t been crowned
I didn’t totally follow that, but Aragorn is just a guy with odd friends and a sword elves gave him if he shows up in Dol Amroth, not the King. No healing hands of the king. No men of Dunharrow. No victory to his credit. No Rohirrim calling him Captain. Denethor not dead and effectively heirless( or he is because Minas Tirith is already captured. Imrahil probably also dead, really, depending on how you want to analyze the counterfactual) so less willingness to follow Aragorn instead.
Gandalf said it would take too long, it's a months longer journey. So Minas Tirith would've fallen before they got there and getting into Mordor would've been much harder with the armies of the west in tatters.
Minas Tirith only was attacked as quickly iirc because Sauron stepped up his schedule due to the Palantir
he wouldn't need to attack though, as Rohan would have fallen and Gondor is a done deal by that point.
In that case, Sauron would have had longer to muster his forces. Even if the battle is started later, it would still end quicker, if you catch my drift.
They spent a month sitting in Lothlorien. Clearly not in a rush.
Gandalf was in a rush. He wasn't in charge anymore.
“Now that that tyrant Gandalf is out of the picture, let’s take a vacation!”
When they leave Lothlorien they note that the moon seemed wrong for the time they were there. I always read that as saying time in Lothlorien passes more slowly, so it's possible they didn't realize they spent a month there.
It’s not just possible, it’s explicitly expressed lol ETA: like in the exact part you’re referencing lol
Well perhaps Galadriel should have told them, I mean she knows full well what time it is, and how urgrnt the quest.
Time itself does not pass normally in Lothlorien. Sam estimates they spend 3 days resting, but the moon is in a completely different phase when they leave and nobody is quite sure what happened.
You’d think Galadriel could’ve mentioned that to them
Aragorn knew.
She probably assumed that everyone knew Lorien was home to the valar of rest, and knew what that entailed. It would be like saying "welcome to Disneyland... *where everything costs a boatload but you do get to take a picture with a giant mouse.*" But they don't say that, they just say "welcome to Disneyland," and assume that the rest is common knowledge.
The elves are not good with time. Like Humans lose track of time by minutes, hours, elves do by months, years.
I think this is an underrated point too. Also, these elves don’t really leave Lorien. And Aragorn was probably aware, but he was also recovering and at his fiancée(?)’s grandmother’s place.
I think time passes the same way, but you don't really realise it. It feels slower, or something like that
Lothlorien = hyperbaric time chamber
I think it's a reference to the old Celtic stories of people traveling to faerie realms and time passing differently than in the mortal world.
Like Tír na nÓg?
Yes, exactly!
Thank you, you’ve stirred up some memories from my childhood lol, I think I know what I’ll be reading next
Like that room where Dende and Mr Popo live in Dragon Ball Z where everyone trains for a year but it’s only been a day on the outside?
well, not with Gandalf though
Also people keep bringing up things like “Rohan would’ve fallen” that are true but would not have been known to the fellowship or in any way a part of the decision making. They didn’t plan their route for the best way to have the heroes help out, they were just going straight to Mordor with the path that had the best chance of getting there alive and/or undetected
We don’t know for sure how much “future” Elrond and or Gandalf “know.”
It wasn't a month on the calendar. Time in elf havens is weird.
Yes it was a month. January 16 to February 16
wonder what they did for Feb 14th
It was a month on the calendar, but felt like only a few days inside.
Frodo was recuperating.
I thought you said ‘taters’ for a second
What's taters, precious?
Po-Tay-Toes. Boil ’em. Mash ’em. Stick ’em in a stew.
Taters?
I don't want to sound like a prick, but they could have taken the eagles to south-west Gondor.
The eagles are not a taxi service.
Because they're pricks.
Well, then perhaps Radagast could have stepped up with his Jack-rabbit sled, eh?
They are not going to a restaurant either.
Radaghast doing the eagle work not Gandalf.
Would you trust the eagles to keep the fellowship safe while they're being attacked by the massive fell beasts that the Nazgul ride?
Sounds safer than the fellowship travelling on foot, at various times chased by Nazgul on horseback, or flying beasts, or hordes of orcs. The eagles weren't that involved because it would've made the story boring. But this is no criticism towards Tolkien. Had the written everything with perfect logic, then the story would've been a boring historical account just the same.
Would you trust the eagles to not take the ring?
They don’t have fingers to stick it on! To be fair though, toe ring isn’t nearly as menacing sounding
Cock ring on the other hand...
**Cloaca ring
Also getting to Minas Tirith wasn’t the final destination. So this would have been a way longer trip to Mordor.
I just read this part yesterday in the books lol. When they turn back from going over the mountains, they discuss what their options would be to continue. Moria is fastest but also very dangerous, and none of the fellowship but Gimli wants to go that way, but Gandalf says its really the best way considering their options. Only Aragorn and Gandalf have ever entered Moria before. Boromir says they should go through the gap of Rohan. Gandalf says that they should not risk at all taking the ring near Isengard because of Saruman. He also says that that way could take a whole year. The line you drew is even more south which would take the even longer (Year+). And that since Boromir came through the gap of Rohan to get to Rivendell, things have changed since Boromir took that road (Saruman revealed himself.) Gandalf also says they might find the company of Balin, another hopeful reason to take Moria route. edit: The route that would potentially take a year would be the route OP drew. One of the routes that Boromir suggests.
>He also says that that way could take a whole year. Does he say this? I'm not arguing he doesn't, I just don't remember it. I do remember the hobbits go home this way and, while there are no more real perils to slow them, they were very much taking their time and made it home in far less than a year.
It is a long way around, over mosty mostly empty inhospitable land. It would tak way too long and would be perilous a tiring to the extreme. They would have also needed tons of supplies. Travelling in essentially medival setting was extremely difficult, slow and perilous.
I was referring to the comment above mine that claimed taking the gap of rohan would take a year.
In the book when Boromir suggests taking the gap of Rohan, or an even more southern route into the Gondor region, Gandalf specifically says “we might spend a year in such a journey” referring to the longer journey south. Basically the one OP drew.
Would take longer for sure. Maybe not a year necessary but definitely longer. Travelling by boats is faster and more comfortable. Hobbits were free to take a gap of Rohan on the way back as they were in no particular hurry, war was won and Saruman was no longer a threat (well not that kind of threat anyway as he lost his power and Orthanc). Taking this detour with the ring was a different matter. Ring would have drawn the attention in Gondor too... and we know what Denethor would have think about it.
Was there a reason they walked and didn’t ride horses/ponies?
They travel almost exclusively by night, horses or ponies would've required more provisions and made them more easy to track. The movies I think really give a bad impression of the first leg of the journey and how much depended on secrecy. The entire plan hinged on Sauron never knowing until the very last moment that they were taking the Ring east to destroy it.
Also the first plan was to climb Caradhas and cross at the redhorn pass which had steep climbs which would have been tough on horses.
Well why didn't they invent airplanes and fly there in a couple of hours, hmm?
Tie a carrot on a stick and hold it in front of a big bird. Fly to volcano, the end.
This is discussed in the book, bascially: A. Takes too long, waaaaay to long B. Empty barren land with nowhere to hide/ resupply. C. Sauron has spies and eyes EVERYWHERE. They would have been spotted. The journey through moria actually plays a big part in the success of the mission as it hides them for a good while. D. Saruman also would have had spies in this area as its within the sight of Isengard.
E. Ringwraiths are delayed, not dead.
i wOuLd nOt tAkE tHe RiNg WiThIn a hUndReD lEaGuEs oF yOur CitY
I believe that’s more of a movie invention. If I recall (been a while since I’ve read the books) I believe it was more the intention of Aragorn and Boromir to split off and head to Minas Tirith as they got further south?
Aragorn wanted to go to Gondor, his heart yearned for it, but he definitely didn’t want to bring the Ring there, knowing how easily it corrupted Men’s hearts.
That’s not true, the entire company even discussed heading to Minas Tirith from Lothlorien several times, and even discussed it as an option with Celeborn and Galadriel. Aragorn never opposed the idea for any reason other than because Frodo may not have wanted to go that way, because he was uncertain what way Gandalf intended for them to go after Lothlorien, and because heading there first from Lothlorien rather than continuing east was a longer journey. He ultimately was going to leave the choice to Frodo, but Frodo ended up sneaking off by himself (well until Sam caught him and joined him that is). That Minas Tirith wouldn’t be a safe place for the Ring due to temptation is never brought up by Aragorn. He does remark that Denethor and the men of Gondor could not hope to achieve what even Elrond could not, that being keeping the ring there and secret and holding off Sauron’s forces when he comes to take it.
But you can't really avoid Gondor if you want to reach Mordor.
Oh yes we can!
They could have gone the long way round across Rhovanion and entered Mordor from the east. No Gondor or Black Gates over that end.
Yeah but probably they would have met problems crossing the mountains into Mordor and travelling in Mordor is really difficult.
Not if they brought Farmer Maggot. All of Mordor would flee before his wrath.
i was about to say the exact same thing lmfao
Because that route is 4 more moves than Moria. If you know you know
I'm always tempted to take a weird route like that. Maybe through Rohan instead to activate them. It never feels worth it though and I like winning.
Which game??
The one time I went south towards Rohan it seemed to take an eternity. I think that may have been the game I lucked into a military win for the FP when my opponent left Mordor wide open and I just simply walked right in.
Seems like one does simply walk into Mordor
This is how I take the ring in Total War but that’s just me.
Wait, I might be living under a rock but is the total war LOTR good?
Total War Medieval 2 Divide and Conquer mod is godlike
I am hoping the one being worked on(?) for Attila will reach the same heights, eventually. Added a little ? because I have not checked in for well over a year or two
It looks insane these days. Campaign coming soon I believe.
I’m not trying to throw shade at the project at all; everything I’ve ever seen has been incredible, but to my understanding the campaign has been “coming soon” for for a while. Was something said recently?
I need more information. Is this a mod?
Yes, Divide and Conquer for Med2. It’s an amazing mod and I highly recommend it.
There is also Third Age mod to Warband and LOTR mods to Crusader kings
Third age on warband is epic
Way too long. And with the road of the Moria they can use the river Anduin which speed up a lot their journey.
Related question, how was crossing through the Black Gate ever considered a viable option? The way the movies portray the Black Gate it would be impossible to get through unseen. It’s a giant constantly patrolled 5 story high wall of steel that only opens when large bodies of soldiers are marching through. Is the black gate greatly different in the books?
Honestly a great question as well. I look at it like… what other chance is there though? The way faramir talks about cirith ungol, it’s obviously not a great way either
One of the few things about the Second book that bothers me is that they didn't go further east and try and get over the mountains there. A) the mountains look to thin out, This could just be a figment of Tolkien's map or they could have larger gaps between them. B) For distance wise the mountains a little further east were days closer than traveling to Cirth Ungol Now I understand that Gollum made it sound like there was no other passage into the mountains than the way he wanted to take them and there is no guarantee that there would be passage that way, just seems like one of those times in a book where a thing has to happen so it does.
Nobody in the fellowship really knew what to do when they actually finally rocked up at Mordor. Frodo told Gollum to take him to the big gate because that's all Frodo knew about it. Gandalf may have had some ideas but he wasn't around. But of course in Middle-Earth if you are on the side of good then you have a lot more leeway to skip the detailed planning and just rely on fate to point you in the right direction.
I know they wanted to avoid the gap of Rohan due to Isengard being there. But was there any reason why they didn't go even farther south? I'm not familiar with anything in this region so genuinely curious why. Just too long?
This route was actually suggested while they were on their way, debating which way to go. I believe Gandalf said something along the lines of this route taking up too much time, time that they simply didn’t have, or more like couldn’t afford to take to get to Mordor.
I made another comment but to talk about the regions in question: Enedwaith is mostly empty and open save for Dunland which is allied with Isengard. Going through such a land is asking to be spotted, waylaid and assaulted by a large force and for the Ring to be taken. Druwaith Iaur and Andrast are rocky and mostly empty save for presumably the Púkelmen, a primitive race of men native to the area who aren’t evil but aren’t friendly either, they may not take kindly to trespassers (in Tolkiens notes some of the orc survivors from the Battle of the Fords and Helms Deep fled this way and were slain by these men). The problem beyond that is that you probably aren’t going to find a lot of food until you get to Langstrand where you are in Gondor proper, but taking the Ring among so many men is perilous. From there the journey through southern Gondor wouldn’t be too bad as there are kept roads to take and the land is mostly safe.
I am not sure I'd want to take the ring so close to Gondor with Boromir's views on it.
Potential of too many spies for Saruman and Sauron I think.
As mentioned that route is extremely long and the end point isn't even where they are going. The stair of Cirith Ungol was no one's plan to enter Mordor. The main gate is the only serious entrance which is at the very north end of the western mountain. So they would have to loop even farther back north.
and a lot more rivers along that southern route.
In addition to a couple of other answers in comments, I'm pretty sure there was no crossing of the Isen downstream of the Fords in the Gap of Rohan, so the Fellowship may well have just got somewhere down there and just been trapped with nowhere to go, and Corsairs in their faces.
Weren't they afraid of spies which is why they didn't go too far south west of the Misty Mountains?
allergies
I’m sure the betrayal of Saruman played a big part, they didn’t know if they could trust anyone if the leader of the council was flipped to the dark side
Isn't that where the crows were patrolling, forcing them to go over/under the mountain?
I’ve not seen anyone mention yet that this isn’t terribly far from Harad which was very dangerous
If they did that they'd walk over Saruman's front lawn. way too close to risk it
The ships
New idea: why not take a boat.from the east Coast to Gondor?
Bc they haven’t finished building it on Ardacraft yet
I think it was mentioned by Gandalf even in the Fellowship movie that the road across the Misty Mountains would take them too much time, hence his uneasy decision to go through the mines of Moria. If I remember that correctly, there’s a scene when the Fellowship are discussing which road to take from Rivendell where Gandalf provides some reasoning behind their road to Caradhras instead of moving south, and when this road gets blocked by Saruman’s spells they are left with none other choice than to attempt through Moria cuz it’s the shortest road left for them
I believe Jimmy Cliff got it right when he sang “many rivers to cross”