He finds Carter's philology "clearly inexpert" where not "demonstrably inaccurate," and suspected that the book was "rushed into print to take advantage of the current Tolkien mania." Nicholas Whyte comments on the 2003 update that Roberts "sensibly" did not try too hard to remedy the book's failings, adding a Silmarillion chapter and a bit on recent fantasy.
He considers Carter's philology "obviously unqualified" where it is not "undeniably incorrect," and suspects the book was "hastily published" to take advantage of the current Tolkien frenzy. A commentator from 2003 comments that Roberts "prudently" didn't try too hard to correct the book's shortcomings, adding a new chapter about The Silmarillion and some recent fantasy.