The Silmarillion

[Gabacho Mk.II]

Right. In a nutshell, what bits of information can you tell me concerning the book and stories contained therein?

Much appreciated.




note: I havent read the book as I have been told by numbers of people that the book is too long, too hard to read, too boring, etc.

[Phoenix Blaze]

Said numbers of people are all foolish and probably couldn't man up to reading the Silmarillion. Also, too long, the main story itself is only 200 pages or so! vs the 1000 pages of the LotR!

IMO (and many others I'm sure), the Silmarillion is Tolkien's best work.

It's in several sections.

First, the myth of creation, the Music of the Ainur, the Ainulindale. Illuvatar, head honcho and god of all things greats the Ainur, god like beings, and through music create life and the world that is Arda. One of their number, Melkor rebels and the world is marred by his evil, but it turns out that his evil (relentless frost and destroying flame) simply add to the splendour of Arda overall (rain, snow, ice etc.)

The book then details the wars bewteen Melkor with his forces and the rest of the Ainur (the Valar and the Maiar). The Valar eventually defeat Melkor, and for a time, there is peace. With Melkor imprisoned, the Valar can set to rebuilding Arda after the ruin that was caused my Melkor during his war with the Valar.

Eventually, the Children of Illuvatar awake in Middle Earth but only the Firstborn, the Elves.

From here the story really begins as it takes you through the events that unfolded. The majority of the elves remove themselves from Middle Earth to Aman, where the Valar do dwell. After countless years, Melkor is released to live in Aman also, and eventually, his evil returns as he again brings ruin to the valar's settlement, and causes a rift between the Noldor (a race of Eldar).

The story then shifts back to Middle Earth, concentrating on the Wars between Melkor (now name Morgoth) and the Noldor who followed him back to Middle Earth. During these wars, great kingdoms rise and fall, and the Sindar (more elves, ones who never went to Aman) also fall into the troubles of the Noldor. At the end of it all, morgoth has destroyed each of the Elven Kingdoms and only at the very last does hope come from the West as the hosts of the Valar march on morgoth's domain.

really, that's a mightily abridged version, which doesn't even mention the deeds of the Edain (men who were allies to the Elves), the mighty Feanor, the Silmarils, the two Trees etc. It'd take far too long to post and I suggest just reading the book. It's amazing.

There will be other people here who can post a better "quick" version, I always seem to miss out pivotal moments or key aspects to attract new readers (which is silly of me seeing as I've read it like 7 times!).

[Llew]

Well, I love to read histories, religious books and all manner of dry works for fun. I found "The Silmarillion" to be exceedingly dry and unpleasant to read. If you can "man up" to reading LotR, then really "The Silmarillion" should be easy. It does not feel that way. Although it was much shorter, I found it to be intensely laborious.

It doesn't have the same comfort of readability as I've found in other of Tolkein's works. To me, it felt like I was getting lots of data and events, but too little of the expansion that made other stories much more pleasureable to read.

I'm due to go back to it again as it has been many years, and hopefully I'll be able to shift into a reading mode where it will be more of an enjoyment. It's worth the effort for the back story of Middle Earth and for the context.

Phoenix Blaze did a precis for you, but honestly if you really think you might want to know about the deeper history to Tolkein's world, it's probably worth plowing through on your own.

[Damien 1427]

note: I havent read the book as I have been told by numbers of people that the book is too long, too hard to read, too boring, etc.

Because it is. And I'd argue never being finished certainly doesn't help it in that regard. Tolkien died before he could properly finish it, and his son Christopher edited and published it much later on.

I'll be honest, it's a very, very hard book to read. I never finished it myself. However, if you want background on Middle Earth straight from the source (Or, near enough as you'll get this side of the grave) as opposed to in a clinical, lifeless style you'll get on Wikipedia, it's the only game in town.

[Jo Bennett]

I tried to read it, got distracted. I tried to listen to it on CD, fell asleep. Will try again some time but I will attest to it be very hard going. I won't necessarily say it was dull, the mythology it sets out is quite interesting, especially the intermingling of Christian and Norse ideas, but it is hard to follow and is written in what might be called a "biblical" style. It's not dissimilar to trying to plough through the history of the kingdoms of Israel and Judah.

[Sarah S]

I loved the Silmarillion.

It's a great source of information, and I thought the stories were very epic, if not filled with personal details.

If you want a hard (and totally unrelated) book to read, I recommend the Illuminatus Trilogy by Robert Shea and RAW.

[Leonathion]

I love the silmarillion too! Great work, especially if you like epic settings, it truly is tolkiens bibel.

If you want a more lighweight version, the children of Hurin has been released. Although not as comprehensive and encompassing as the silmarillion it is a book set in a long time of middle earths history. The characters are better developed and the story is less biblical. It fokuses on the house of Hurin and their endeveours. I haven't read it but hopefully I'll pick it up during summer.

It is made from the texts in silmarillion, and edited and republished bu C. Tolkien.

[static grass]

The Children of Hurin is just one of the stories from the Silmarillion. It might be best to read this first (and then again) as it is abit more accessible than the Silmarillion as a whole.

It is quite different in tone from the war of the rings. It is brilliantly depressing so don't read it on the edge of a cliff.

[Phoenix Blaze]

I'd say it's more tragic than depressing, but as always good can be found in all evils.

I wouldn't say Children of Hurin presents a better representation as compared to what's in the Silmarillion, Lost Tales and Unfinished Tales, but it is nice to have everything lumped together.

It is a lot more epic, with battles being many times larger than those seen in the Lord of the Rings (ridiculously big!).

The book also contains the Akkalabeth (sp?), which details the founding and then downfall of Numenor. It then finishes with a short recap of the 3rd Age and the events in the Lord of the Rings, effectively having the very start and very end of Tolkien's mythos.

[Verm1s]

If you want something hard to read, try all five of Frank Herbert's Dune novels, in rapid succession. My brain broke halfway through God-Emperor of Dune. I never did finish it, or the series.

The Sil can be hard to crack, but try it a second or even third time and you've got a grand mythology and history. Bersides the epic tales, it also gives a bit more insight into certain things mentioned in The Hobbit and LotR, like 'Gondolin and the goblin wars', the 'evil of which Sauron is but a servant', dragons, and the origin of ents.

Though if you fancy something to bridge the gap between LotR and the Sil, I'd personally recommend Unfinished Tales. It contains a few more stories and essays about the second and third ages too, and has a more 'palatable', personal version of The Children of Hurin. (I haven't read the recently-released book on that specific tale. Can't say how different it is.)

[static grass]

I'd say it's more tragic than depressing, but as always good can be found in all evils.

I wouldn't say Children of Hurin presents a better representation as compared to what's in the Silmarillion, Lost Tales and Unfinished Tales, but it is nice to have everything lumped together.

Hahaha could you explain why it is tragic rather than depressing. Most tragic events are depressing unless you happen to be of particularly hardened soul Perhaps you mean if Waterstones was to open a new section to house CoH it would be more likely to be called Tragic rather than Depressing this is true. The book deals alot with loneliness and most of the journey's are conducted solo and have a strong air of despair about them rather than just dealing with a continuous series of disasters - which there is.

I am not saying CoH is better than Silmarillion. It is just that it is more easier to get into. The Silmarillion contains alot of dusty stuff whilst the CoH gets straight into the classic theme of boy meets girl....

[Chaplain of Chaos]

The Silmarillion is a masterpiece, both compelling and epic in scope.

I don't see why anyone would say it's dry or boring. Why would you need to "man up" to read a book as powerfully told and engaging as the work of art that is Tolkien's Silmarillion. I won't tell you anything about it because you should read it, the delicacy and power is in the details so to speak.

[static grass]

The Silmarillion is a masterpiece, both compelling and epic in scope.

I don't see why anyone would say it's dry or boring. Why would you need to "man up" to read a book as powerfully told and engaging as the work of art that is Tolkien's Silmarillion. I won't tell you anything about it because you should read it, the delicacy and power is in the details so to speak.

Is any of this aimed at me?

[Steam_Giant]

Epic books, like epic journeys require some preperation. Do some research, make some notes, perhaps start reading the latter parts of the book which are less like a history book and more action orientated. (I see no reason to read the book parts in order ?) The Sil is essential reading, and i imagine that WoTR will unofficially be converted for the great battles it contains, Cant wait.

[Fredmans]

It reads a bit different from the average fantasy book. It is not a novel, but more of a chronicle, an elvish record of events pre-dating the setting of Lord of the Rings, a lore-book. As pointed out, it was never finished. Parts of it were originally written in verse, others more in line with the prose of Lord of the Rings. Some parts are more like a synopsis, just outlining what happens, others are enthralling. Also, it was continually written and improved or changed in bursts of creativity throughout Tolkien's entire life. Therefore, inconsistencies and changes are quite visible.

That being said, I love Silmarillion, and it is the book I have re-read the most times ever. If you find it a slow read, I really recommend browsing through the first chapters. When the Elves and Men appear, you will find it a much easier read. If everything goes well (in my opinion), you will want to re-read the first part anyway. The high count of elven princes and domains could perhaps be daunting at first, but you will get used to it and in most editions, there are family lines and maps for quick reference.

I hope you will enjoy it,
/Fredmans

[Bloodknight]

I tried to read it several times, but found it to be tedium incarnate, the German translation even more than the already horrible and opaque original version.

I didn't enjoy the LotR very much (boring travel, boring travel, singing, singing, uninteresting battle scene - I was astonished by the Battle for Helm's Deep, how unfun and short can a decisive mass battle be in a book? -, again singing, verses...smug Elves and whiny Hobbits...IMO the only real hero in that book is Sam for not abandoning the oh so tragic Frodo); but the Silmarillion is like reading the Bible (which I did, completely).

[Simon Sez]

For anyone on the fence about whether they want to read the Silmarillion I have the golden carrot to dangle before you: A flying ship fighting a Dragon the size of a mountain range! Oh yeah...

[Phoenix Blaze]

Hahaha, actually, that's a great way to tie people in!
Not to mention that in the larger battles, there are multiple Balrgos, as well as Dragons fighting on the side of Morgoth!


I think the Silmarillion has a bit of a love hate thing. Some people read it or try to read it and just don't like it, other people read it and fall in love with the book (like myself).

[Nilhouse]

The Sil is essential reading, and i imagine that WoTR will unofficially be converted for the great battles it contains, Cant wait.

I have wondered if this would be possible myself. What would Melkor look like on the battlefield? Some sort of a combination of Sauron and a Balrog stat wise, but more powerful somehow is all I can imagine. Then again, Melkor/Morgoth is almost killed by an Elf, and is easily defeated by a giant (really giant) spider.

[Fredmans]

I have wondered if this would be possible myself. What would Melkor look like on the battlefield? Some sort of a combination of Sauron and a Balrog stat wise, but more powerful somehow is all I can imagine. Then again, Melkor/Morgoth is almost killed by an Elf, and is easily defeated by a giant (really giant) spider.

It is true that Morgoth was wounded in the battle against Fingolfin, but Fingolfin was no ordinary elf, but one of the mightiest elves of all time. However valiant Fingolfin's battle was, it was a doomed attempt since Melkor was a Vala and no living thing could ever hope to kill a Vala. It is not within their capabilities.

On account of the giant spider, Ungoliant was not a spider, but an unknown spirit in the guise of a spider. The giant spiders like Shelob are smaller and less powerful descendants of Ungoliant. Remember that Ungoliant drank the sap of the Trees of Valinor and the power of Feanor's greatest treasure, so it was no ordinary being that Melkor was afraid of. As opposed to the other Vala, Melkor often displays fear (as does Sauron in later ages). Melkor acted more and more cowardly and the fight with Fingolfin was the last time he ever left his throne. During the sixth and last battle, he did not participate but threw himself upon the mercy of the Valar.

/Fredmans