December 11, 2002

Re: Which Towers?
Space Elf

On the whole you are right the book says that
the two towers are indeed Minas Morgal and Orthanc. Tolkien himself has said this. However,
in a letter to Rayner Unwin, about the titling
of the 3 Books, Tolkien stated that one of the
reasons he chose this title was its obliqueness
and that it could refer to a number of things;
Barad-dur & Orthanc or Orthanc & Minas Morgal or
Minas Tirith & Minas Morgal etc. If you want to
read this letter its in "The Letters of JRR Tolkien.

Space Elf