'The Ring of Words'

By Peter Gilliver, Jeremy Marshall and Edmund Weiner

Oxford, $25.

This interesting little book, subtitled "Tolkien and the Oxford English Dictionary," examines the role J.R.R. Tolkien played in compiling the Oxford English Dictionary. It is interesting because Tolkien demonstrated the same kind of linguistic creativity he used in his books.

The authors examine more than 100 of the most interesting words used by Tolkien, including attercop and Shelob, blunderbuss, confusticate, eleventy-one, Gnome, Mannish, Middle-earth, ruel-bone, sigaldry, staggerment, trill and Withywindle.

Once these words are defined and examined in relation to Tolkien's writing, it opens understanding of not only his private mythologies but of the English language itself. It is also likely to give Tolkien fans a new appreciation of "Lord of the Rings."

Readers may find that "mathom" (anything a hobbit had no use for) was actually common in old English, but "Mithril" is a complete invention. Harry Potter fans may also be surprised to find that "Dumbledore," the name of Hogwart's headmaster, was a word used by Tolkien and others — and it means "bumblebee."

'Grayson'

By Lynne Cox

Knopf, $16.95.

Lynne Cox, the author of "Swimming to Antarctica," has written about an ocean encounter that occurred when she was 17 and in training for a big swim. In the early morning darkness, Cox was swimming in 55-degree water 200 yards offshore in the Pacific Ocean.

She became aware that something was swimming with her — a lone baby whale. It was migrating to its feeding grounds in the Bering Sea, an 8,000 mile journey. The baby would have to make much of the journey on the back of its mother, plus it needed its mother's milk — up to 50 gallons a day. Cox knew that if she didn't find the mother whale, the baby would dehydrate and starve to death.

This book tells the story of how Cox accomplished that amazing feat.

'Saks and Violins'

By Mary Daheim

William Morrow, $23.95.

If you combine a credit-card conundrum with a neighborhood nuisance who practices his violin in the nude (nude, rude Rudi), you get a satirical mystery.

The heroine is Judith McMonigle Flynn, and her companion is her cousin, Renie. Judith is expected to throw a party for Dolph Kluger, a world-renowned musician, when he visits Rudi Wittener.

They hold the party at the Hillside Manor bed and breakfast. Dolph collapses after the party, and it is found he was poisoned. Everyone wants to know who would want to kill him.