The Tolkien Companion

Varda-Me · 02-03-2002, 11:41 PM

A long, long time ago, back in college, when I was going through my second Tolkien craze (the first was in high school), my mother bought me a used copy of The Tolkien Companion by J.E.A. Tyler. It really helped me get a lot more out of the book. I would like to know if there a similar book for The Silmarillion? I never did read The Silmarillion before now, and would appreciate something like the Companion to help me through it. Thanks!

Uinen · 02-04-2002, 10:57 AM

Hi there Varda Me,

I haven't heard of any companion to the silmarillion... however, there is as always a pretty detailed appendix at the back. Make reference to the family trees often - it helps to figure out who is who and how they are related.

The silmarillion is several short stories so I would suggest taking each on its own since it is easier to get through. It is a beautiful read though and I'm sure you'll enjoy it.

Enjoy!

emplynx · 02-04-2002, 04:58 PM

The Complete Guide to Middle-earth is the best. I have one.

Renille · 02-05-2002, 12:02 AM

"The Tolkien Companion" guided me through my first time reading the series. It was great...but no, I don't know anything about a Silm. one!

Marcus · 02-05-2002, 01:23 AM

the thing that helped me through lotr and silmarillion
is the
The atlas of middle earth
very detailed pictures according to the book and tolkiens drawings

helps you to see where you are
definetly worth while

***Sister Golden Hair*** · 02-05-2002, 03:29 PM

I found the Tolkien Companion to be good, but at times inaccurate. The Complete Guide to Middle-earth (from the Hobbit through the Silmarillion), I would say is the best reference source available. It is a little out dated, but very accurate most of the time. It is by Robert Foster. I wish he would do another guide that included things from the HoMe.

galadriel · 02-05-2002, 04:01 PM

The ancient (1976) version of the Tolkien Companion that I own is inaccurate in some places, since it was written pre-Silmarillion and some of the assumptions that the author made based on the appendices turned out to be incorrect. But, although I could be wrong, I heard that there was a newer edition of the book that corrected the inaccuracies.

orald · 02-05-2002, 06:53 PM

I also have "The complete guide to Middle-Earth",it has some references to the Silmarillion,since they are all intertwined,but there are minor inaccuracies.It says Glamdring shown a blue light in the presence of Orcs,but Tolkien describes it as white,and a few others(I know this is small).And if you totally believe Robert Foster,then the question of Glorfindel being the same elf,will be solved,since by his definition of Elves they could not be the same,and are listed seperate.But it will help you in some areas of the Sil.and is great to look up certain bloodlines.

Varda-Me · 02-07-2002, 12:08 AM

Thank you all. I purchased Foster's Complete Guide, and it is helping, although it's still pretty tough going. But, I'm enjoying it. I also noticed an inaccuracy in Foster's guide (unless I'm missing something, which, of course, is possible, given the intricacies of the names and bloodlines). In the Line of Isildur genealogy table in the appendix, it names Arathorn II as marrying Gilraen and their offspring is named also as Arathorn II (Elessar), who married Arwen. Hmm. Wouldn't that be Aragorn II?

Tar-Elendil · 04-28-2002, 08:05 PM

yes, it would be aragorn II..

02-03-2002, 11:41 PM	#1
Varda-Me Hobbit Join Date: Jan 2002 Posts: 40	The Tolkien Companion A long, long time ago, back in college, when I was going through my second Tolkien craze (the first was in high school), my mother bought me a used copy of The Tolkien Companion by J.E.A. Tyler. It really helped me get a lot more out of the book. I would like to know if there a similar book for The Silmarillion? I never did read The Silmarillion before now, and would appreciate something like the Companion to help me through it. Thanks!

02-04-2002, 10:57 AM	#2
Uinen Sapling Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Canada Posts: 12	Hi there Varda Me, I haven't heard of any companion to the silmarillion... however, there is as always a pretty detailed appendix at the back. Make reference to the family trees often - it helps to figure out who is who and how they are related. The silmarillion is several short stories so I would suggest taking each on its own since it is easier to get through. It is a beautiful read though and I'm sure you'll enjoy it. Enjoy! __________________ "Not all who wander are lost"

02-05-2002, 12:02 AM	#4
Renille Elven Lady of Speed-posting Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: the cheese state Posts: 988	"The Tolkien Companion" guided me through my first time reading the series. It was great...but no, I don't know anything about a Silm. one! __________________ Oh the thinks you can think! Think and wonder and dream...far and wide as you dare! When your thinks have run dry, in the blink of an eye, there's another world there... (from Seussical the Musical. Listen to it...watch it...really.)

02-05-2002, 04:01 PM	#7
galadriel Elven Warrior Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: a castle made of clouds Posts: 459	The ancient (1976) version of the Tolkien Companion that I own is inaccurate in some places, since it was written pre-Silmarillion and some of the assumptions that the author made based on the appendices turned out to be incorrect. But, although I could be wrong, I heard that there was a newer edition of the book that corrected the inaccuracies. __________________ Human kind cannot bear very much reality. dreamflower - for all things Lady Galadriel

04-28-2002, 08:05 PM	#10
Tar-Elendil Númenorean Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Louisiana Posts: 1,050	yes, it would be aragorn II.. __________________ Why can we not be sober..

02-04-2002, 04:58 PM	#3
emplynx Self-Appointed Lord of the Free Peoples of the General Messages Join Date: Nov 2001 Posts: 1,214	The Complete Guide to Middle-earth is the best. I have one.

02-05-2002, 01:23 AM	#5
Marcus Hobbit Join Date: Jan 2002 Posts: 18	the thing that helped me through lotr and silmarillion is the The atlas of middle earth very detailed pictures according to the book and tolkiens drawings helps you to see where you are definetly worth while

02-05-2002, 03:29 PM	#6
*Sister Golden Hair* Queen of Nargothrond Administrator Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: Akron, Ohio - USA Posts: 7,121	I found the Tolkien Companion to be good, but at times inaccurate. The Complete Guide to Middle-earth (from the Hobbit through the Silmarillion), I would say is the best reference source available. It is a little out dated, but very accurate most of the time. It is by Robert Foster. I wish he would do another guide that included things from the HoMe.

02-05-2002, 06:53 PM	#8
orald Enting Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: 2 blocks from Minas Tirith Posts: 59	I also have "The complete guide to Middle-Earth",it has some references to the Silmarillion,since they are all intertwined,but there are minor inaccuracies.It says Glamdring shown a blue light in the presence of Orcs,but Tolkien describes it as white,and a few others(I know this is small).And if you totally believe Robert Foster,then the question of Glorfindel being the same elf,will be solved,since by his definition of Elves they could not be the same,and are listed seperate.But it will help you in some areas of the Sil.and is great to look up certain bloodlines.

02-07-2002, 12:08 AM	#9
Varda-Me Hobbit Join Date: Jan 2002 Posts: 40	Thank you all. I purchased Foster's Complete Guide, and it is helping, although it's still pretty tough going. But, I'm enjoying it. I also noticed an inaccuracy in Foster's guide (unless I'm missing something, which, of course, is possible, given the intricacies of the names and bloodlines). In the Line of Isildur genealogy table in the appendix, it names Arathorn II as marrying Gilraen and their offspring is named also as Arathorn II (Elessar), who married Arwen. Hmm. Wouldn't that be Aragorn II?

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