About the Book
The Two Towers is the second volume of J.R.R. Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings, picking up immediately after the Fellowship has fractured at the end of The Fellowship of the Ring. The book splits into two distinct narrative threads: the first follows Aragorn, Legolas, and Gimli as they pursue the Orcs who have captured Merry and Pippin, leading into the war in Rohan and the siege of Helm's Deep. The second follows Frodo and Sam as they make their way toward Mordor with Gollum as their reluctant guide.
The two halves of the book are structurally separate, Tolkien completes one storyline entirely before switching to the other. This is worth knowing going in, especially if you're listening rather than reading, since the transition between the two halves is abrupt and the tonal shift is significant. The Rohan chapters are militaristic and outward-facing; the Frodo and Sam chapters are slower, more inward, and psychologically heavier.
This is not a standalone listen. The story begins mid-action and ends without resolution. Listeners unfamiliar with Tolkien's work should start with The Fellowship of the Ring.
Narration & Audio Performance
Andy Serkis is best known for his motion-capture performance as Gollum in Peter Jackson's film adaptations, which makes him an unusual and somewhat loaded choice to narrate this audiobook. His familiarity with the source material is evident, he handles the wide cast of characters with clear differentiation, and his Gollum in particular is distinctive without leaning entirely on the film version's vocal mannerisms. The performance feels deliberate rather than imitative.
His pacing is generally well-suited to Tolkien's prose style, which is dense and formal in places and benefits from a measured delivery. He does not rush through the descriptive passages, which will suit listeners who want to absorb the world-building. Some listeners may find his character voices for the Rohirrim and Ents a bit theatrical, but this is a matter of preference rather than a flaw in execution.
Production quality from HarperCollins is clean and consistent throughout. If you're unsure whether Serkis's style works for you, the Audible sample is worth checking before committing, he's not a neutral or invisible narrator, and his approach is distinctive enough that it will land differently depending on what you want from the listening experience.
The Audible Verdict
Serkis is a genuinely interesting choice for this material, and the narration is competent and often engaging. That said, The Two Towers is the middle volume of a longer work, it begins without setup and ends without resolution, so its value as an audiobook depends entirely on whether you're already committed to the full trilogy. Use a free trial credit here if you're working through the series in audio form. If you're new to Tolkien, start with The Fellowship of the Ring first.
Listen on AudibleIs This Book a Good Fit for Audio?
The Lord of the Rings as a whole is reasonably well-suited to audio. The prose is formal and literary, but it is still linear narrative, no charts, no footnotes you need to follow, no structural elements that require a visual page. The story moves through scenes and dialogue in a way that translates without significant loss to the spoken format.
The main limitation specific to The Two Towers is its split structure. The book is essentially two separate novellas published together, and the complete switch of cast and location midway through can be disorienting in audio form, where you can't easily flip back to reorient yourself. Listeners who are already familiar with the story will navigate this more comfortably than first-timers.
One genuine caveat: Tolkien's appendices, poems, and songs are part of the reading experience for many fans of the print edition. Some of these elements are present in the audiobook, but poetry and verse rarely land the same way in audio as they do on the page. This is not a dealbreaker, but it's worth noting if that dimension of Tolkien's writing matters to you.
Popular Listener Questions
Is this audiobook part of a series?
Yes. The Two Towers is the second volume of The Lord of the Rings. It follows The Fellowship of the Ring and precedes The Return of the King. You should not start here, the story begins mid-action with no recap of earlier events.
Is Andy Serkis's narration connected to the Peter Jackson films?
Serkis played Gollum in the Jackson films, so there is an obvious association. His narration here is its own performance, he does not simply replicate the film voices, though some familiar tones will come through, particularly for Gollum.
Is this a good audiobook for Tolkien first-timers?
No. This is the second volume of a trilogy, and it does not stand alone. Start with The Fellowship of the Ring, ideally also narrated by Serkis for consistency.
What age group is this suitable for?
The Lord of the Rings is generally considered appropriate for ages 12 and up, though younger listeners who are strong readers often engage with it too. The themes are serious and the language formal, but there is nothing graphic or adult in content.
Similar Audiobooks
The first volume of the trilogy, required listening before The Two Towers. Also narrated by Andy Serkis.
The concluding volume of The Lord of the Rings. The story does not resolve in The Two Towers, so this is the natural next listen.
Tolkien's mythological history of Middle-earth. Much denser and less narrative-driven, but appeals to listeners who want deeper lore after finishing the main trilogy.
Patrick Rothfuss's epic fantasy series shares Tolkien's investment in world-building and a slow-burn, literary approach to the genre.
Brandon Sanderson's Stormlight Archive is the closest modern equivalent in scope and ambition to Tolkien's trilogy. Long, detailed, and built around a large ensemble cast.
Audiobook Details
| Title | The Two Towers |
|---|---|
| Author | J.R.R. Tolkien |
| Narrator | Andy Serkis |
| Genre | Epic Fantasy |
| Year | 2012 |
| Publisher | HarperCollins |
| Abridged | Unabridged |
| Cast | Single narrator |
| Author-narrated | No |
Ready to listen?
The Two Towers is available on Audible with Andy Serkis narrating, a reasonable choice for a free trial credit if you're already working through the trilogy in audio form.
Open on Audible